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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2026-52978: Linux kernel · net: psp: require admin permission for dev-set and key-rotate

Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database

0

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · patch available : update Linux kernel when convenient.

Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
5.5Medium
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
EPSS
0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 5% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
Patch
Available
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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. Weaponised: 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 26 Oct 2026.

What to do

Affected software

ProductAffectedFixed in
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux@7.0.0-27.27?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threatsAffected
  • 6.17.0-5.5 – 7.0.0-27.27
17 affected builds
Fixed in–
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws@7.0.0-1008.8?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threatsAffected
  • 6.17.0-1002.2 – 7.0.0-1008.8
9 affected builds
Fixed in–
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure@7.0.0-1009.9?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threatsAffected
  • 6.17.0-1003.3 – 7.0.0-1009.9
10 affected builds
Fixed in–
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde@7.0.0-1008.8?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threatsAffected
  • 7.0.0-1003.3 – 7.0.0-1008.8
4 affected builds
Fixed in–
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp@7.0.0-1007.7?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threatsAffected
  • 6.17.0-1002.2 – 7.0.0-1007.7
8 affected builds
Fixed in–
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke@7.0.0-1002.3?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threatsAffected
  • =7.0.0-1002.3
Fixed in–

Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.

AI-suggested

An official patch is available and should be applied by updating the Linux kernel packages to versions 7.0.0-28.28 or later (and corresponding patched builds) as provided by Ubuntu security notices USN-8566-1 and USN-8568-1. After applying the update, a system reboot is required to complete remediation. Due to ABI changes, recompilation and reinstallation of third-party kernel modules may be necessary. No additional mitigation actions are required beyond applying the official update.

Description

A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's PSP security protocol was resolved, where the dev-set and key-rotate netlink operations modified shared device state without requiring the CAP_NET_ADMIN capability. This allowed operations that should have required administrative permissions to be performed without proper authorization. The issue affects multiple Linux kernel versions prior to 7.0.0-28.28 and related builds. The vulnerability has been assigned CVE-2026-52978 and has a medium severity score. A patch is available and included in updated Linux kernel packages for Ubuntu 26.04 LTS and related releases.

References

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