CVE-2026-74743: Linux kernel · macvlan: inherit needed_headroom and needed_tailroom from lowerdev
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 9.8 Critical.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.5% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 44% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 27 Aug 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by 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
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A fix is available that properly inherits needed_headroom and needed_tailroom from the lower device during macvlan initialization and updates these values on device feature changes. Users should apply the official Linux kernel patches that address this issue in the affected versions.
Description
A critical vulnerability in the Linux kernel's macvlan networking driver was resolved. The issue involved macvlan devices not inheriting needed_headroom and needed_tailroom values from their underlying lower devices, which could cause memory handling errors such as skb headroom underflows or use-after-free crashes. This flaw affected specific Linux kernel versions and could lead to severe impacts including system crashes. The vulnerability has a high CVSS score of 9.8, indicating critical severity. The fix involves properly inheriting these parameters during macvlan initialization and updating them on device feature changes.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-74743 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/28afc87bd8da0b3348bbbd834c8a89e83712cf5e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8cd90e850e434577bf6774778657d26d6995e53f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8f6a05dbac05725e0786701eb04778c5bdbe4eaa (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/96fa90b74385b7f2b0d97251dd43d5ee6ca44668 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/bc9a00fb78e32bccc39d763bfd13a450705bac5d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/cef51860becd9700217c81732ca1eb1ea6ed6fe1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-74743 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-74743 (opens in a new tab)
- msrc.microsoft.com/csaf/vex/2026/msrc_cve-2026-74743.json (opens in a new tab)
- support.microsoft.com/lifecycle (opens in a new tab)
- first.org/cvss (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7b0eb3e0f363ca79a3af9efd2e87c6258f11da2b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c2ef3f134b069c54b9cc95cce1a16c38c4939336 (opens in a new tab)