Skip to main content
VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2026-52972: Linux kernel · Integer Overflow

Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5

0
Compare

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.0 High · fixed in f8a5203596797f394ff3f9aa4005597a92249802 : patch Linux kernel soon.

Data as of 6 Nov 2026, 17:55 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
7.0High
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.

Thin evidence

One scorer or none
CVSS scores by source
ADP (redhat-SADP)CVSS 3.17.0
CISA SSVC
Exploitation
No evidence of active exploitation and no public proof of concept
Automatable
Attackers cannot reliably automate steps 1–4 of the kill chain
Technical impact
Limited control over the software or limited information exposure

CISA SSVC assessment, 2026-11-06.

Patch
Available – fixed in f8a5203596797f394ff3f9aa4005597a92249802, e4c06479d7059888adf2f22bc1ebcf053bf691a2, e4c4a5074532eaaa14951994a3aad0d479aa7431 +6
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 24 Jun 2026

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponized: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq Mirage: no evidence on record.

    No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors

A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 6 Nov 2026.

What to do

Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.

Affected software

ProductAffectedFixed in
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 400c40cf78da00c16e561a3a253ca272455c42ef, < f8a5203596797f394ff3f9aa4005597a92249802
Fixed in
  • f8a5203596797f394ff3f9aa4005597a92249802
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 400c40cf78da00c16e561a3a253ca272455c42ef, < e4c06479d7059888adf2f22bc1ebcf053bf691a2
Fixed in
  • e4c06479d7059888adf2f22bc1ebcf053bf691a2
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 400c40cf78da00c16e561a3a253ca272455c42ef, < e4c4a5074532eaaa14951994a3aad0d479aa7431
Fixed in
  • e4c4a5074532eaaa14951994a3aad0d479aa7431
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 400c40cf78da00c16e561a3a253ca272455c42ef, < a9f68d9ed38dd6e5a6c6d75b03d25c1c133e321d
Fixed in
  • a9f68d9ed38dd6e5a6c6d75b03d25c1c133e321d
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 400c40cf78da00c16e561a3a253ca272455c42ef, < a4fe4eb580bbc7439f649a496d4cf38415a4021c
Fixed in
  • a4fe4eb580bbc7439f649a496d4cf38415a4021c
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 400c40cf78da00c16e561a3a253ca272455c42ef, < a1c5672faf8e93e38c2deac3979cc767ca5cf918
Fixed in
  • a1c5672faf8e93e38c2deac3979cc767ca5cf918

AI-suggested

A fix is available and has been applied in multiple Linux kernel commits. Users should update their Linux kernel to a fixed version containing these commits. As an immediate mitigation, the affected kernel modules (af_alg and algif_aead) can be blacklisted by creating a modprobe configuration file with the lines: 'install af_alg /bin/true' and 'install algif_aead /bin/true'. This prevents loading the vulnerable modules but disables kernel cryptographic services accessed via AF_ALG sockets. A system restart is required if the modules are already loaded. Users should weigh the impact on applications before applying this mitigation.

Description

CVE-2026-52972 is a high-severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel's af_alg cryptography module involving an integer overflow when processing associated data lengths during transmit buffer size checks. This flaw can lead to denial of service (DoS) due to system instability if exploited by a local attacker providing crafted data lengths. The vulnerability has been fixed in several Linux kernel commits. Mitigation includes blacklisting the affected kernel modules, which disables kernel cryptographic services via AF_ALG sockets and requires a system restart if modules are loaded.

References

Community reviews

Loading reviews…