CVE-2026-46303·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: isofs: validate Rock Ridge CE continuation extent against volume size rock_continue() reads rs->cont_extent verbatim from the Rock Ridge CE record and passes it to sb_bread() without checking that the block number is within the mounted ISO 9660 volume. commit e595447e177b ("[PATCH] rock.c: handle corrupted directories") added cont_offset and cont_size rejection for the CE continuation but did not validate the extent block number itself. commit f54e18f1b831 ("isofs: Fix infinite looping over CE entries") later capped the CE chain length at RR_MAX_CE_ENTRIES = 32 but again left the block number unchecked. With a crafted ISO mounted via udisks2 (desktop optical auto-mount) or via CAP_SYS_ADMIN mount, rs->cont_extent can therefore point at an out-of-range block or at blocks belonging to an adjacent filesystem on the same block device. sb_bread() on an out-of-range block returns NULL cleanly via the block layer EIO path, so there is no memory-safety violation. For in-range reads of adjacent- filesystem data, the CE buffer is parsed as Rock Ridge records and only the text of SL sub-records reaches userspace through readlink(), which makes the info-leak channel narrow and difficult to exploit; still, rejecting the malformed CE outright matches the rejection shape already present in the same function for cont_offset and cont_size. Add an ISOFS_SB(sb)->s_nzones bounds check to rock_continue() next to the existing offset/size rejection, printing the same corrupted-directory-entry notice.
- Severity
- high
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 7.0.7
- Published
How likely is exploitation
FIRST's Exploit Prediction Scoring System puts the probability of this CVE being exploited in the next 30 days at 0.55% — higher than 44% of all published CVEs. EPSS is an independent forecast of exploitation, not a severity rating: it says nothing about how much damage a successful attack does, which is what a CVSS score measures.
Read the two together. CVE-2026-46303 scores 8.2 on CVSS, so a successful attack would be serious — but at 0.55%, almost nobody is currently attempting it. That is a different situation from a flaw under mass exploitation, and it is usually the difference between patching on your next maintenance window and patching tonight.
Affected versions
From: 6.19
Until: 7.0.7
Fixed in: 7.0.7
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 7.0.7 or later to patch the Rock Ridge validation vulnerability in ISO 9660 filesystem handling. This fix adds proper boundary checking for continuation extent block numbers, preventing potential reads from out-of-range or adjacent filesystem blocks. Reboot your system after applying the kernel update to activate the patched version.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-headersDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Step 1: Check your current kernel version with: uname -r
- Step 2: Verify if you have mounted any ISO 9660 volumes with Rock Ridge extensions using: mount | grep -i iso9660
- Step 3: Search system logs for corrupted ISO directory errors with: grep -i 'corrupted.*directory\|isofs' /var/log/kern.log /var/log/messages 2>/dev/null
- Step 4: After patching, confirm the new kernel is running with: uname -r and verify it is 7.0.7 or later
FAQ
What is CVE-2026-46303?
This vulnerability exists in the Linux kernel's isofs (ISO 9660) driver where Rock Ridge continuation extent block numbers are not validated against the mounted volume size. A crafted ISO image could cause the kernel to read from invalid or adjacent filesystem blocks.
Is CVE-2026-46303 being actively exploited?
No, this vulnerability is not currently listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog and no public exploits are available. However, it remains a valid security concern for systems mounting untrusted ISO images.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2026-46303?
Linux kernel versions 6.19 through 7.0.6 are vulnerable. Version 7.0.7 and later include the fix.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2026-46303?
Run 'uname -r' to check your kernel version. If it is between 6.19 and 7.0.6, your system is vulnerable. Kernel 7.0.7 or later is patched.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2026-46303?
Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If the Linux kernel is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2026-46303 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/22b36fa081f38ab397c7697f9d539211b51a0cfc
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8356fb821016797f5677cbeee5ddc0d32a95b4be
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a36d990f591320e9dd379ab30063ebfe91d47e1f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bf1bc673c587f5ef7e9c09b94aea7c5a7847d4d9
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c9b37c8b73f6368e4750e5ccb0632c380b43c6e5
Track CVEs across your fleet automatically
Defensia scans your Linux servers and tells you exactly which ones are running vulnerable versions — including CVE-2026-46303. Free for 1 server.
Get started free