CVE-2026-53151·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: rxrpc: Fix the ACK parser to extract the SACK table for parsing Fix modification of the received skbuff in rxrpc_input_soft_acks() and a potential incorrect access of the buffer in a fragmented UDP packet (the packet would probably have to be deliberately pre-generated as fragmented) when AF_RXRPC tries to extract the contents of the SACK table by copying out the contents of the SACK table into a buffer before attempting to parse AF_RXRPC assumes that it can just call skb_condense() and then validly access the SACK table from skb->data and that it will be a flat buffer - but skb_condense() can silently fail to do anything under some circumstances. Note that whilst rxrpc_input_soft_acks() should be able to parse extended ACKs, the rest of AF_RXRPC doesn't currently support that. Further, there's then no need to call skb_condense() in rxrpc_input_ack(), so don't.
- Severity
- critical
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 7.0.13
- 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 0.67% — higher than 51% 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-2026-53151 scores 9.8 on CVSS, so a successful attack would be serious — but at 0.67%, 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: 7.0.13
Fixed in: 7.0.13
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 7.0.13 or later to address a critical flaw in the rxrpc ACK parser that can lead to memory corruption and privilege escalation. The vulnerability occurs when the kernel fails to properly validate and extract the SACK table from fragmented UDP packets, allowing potential buffer overflows. Ensure your system is fully patched through your distribution's package manager before deploying to production environments.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-develDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Check current kernel version: uname -r — confirm it is below 7.0.13
- List rxrpc module status: lsmod | grep rxrpc — verify if AF_RXRPC is in use
- Inspect kernel module parameters: cat /sys/module/rxrpc/parameters/* — document current rxrpc configuration
- Verify patch application: grep -i 'rxrpc_input_soft_acks\|skb_condense' /boot/config-$(uname -r) — confirm fix is present in kernel configuration
- Check kernel log for rxrpc errors: journalctl -k | grep -i rxrpc — look for any soft ACK parsing failures
FAQ
What is CVE-2026-53151?
This is a critical vulnerability in the Linux kernel's rxrpc (AF_RXRPC) network protocol handler that allows improper memory access when parsing selective acknowledgment (SACK) tables from UDP packets. Attackers can craft malicious fragmented packets to trigger buffer overflows and gain elevated privileges.
Is CVE-2026-53151 being actively exploited?
No, there are currently no reports of active exploitation or publicly available exploits for this vulnerability, though the critical CVSS score of 9.8 warrants immediate patching.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2026-53151?
Linux kernel versions 6.19 through 7.0.12 are vulnerable; kernel 7.0.13 and later contain the fix.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2026-53151?
Run 'uname -r' to check your kernel version; if it is between 6.19 and 7.0.12, your system is vulnerable. Additionally, verify AF_RXRPC usage with 'lsmod | grep rxrpc' to determine if the affected code path is active.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2026-53151?
Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If Kernel is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2026-53151 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/224298450be5c04d2a6ea1c2a94669d7ebf65d00
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/333b6d5bb9f87827ac2639c737bf9613dbae7253
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/566c4c1244de50fbff1f89ff93c9d7b0fc256db4
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5d1ae4e17a3ecd8561cdb4f4f70152f41039c4e1
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/775c5e89272a2615b72bb84f611ba66fa3b7493e
Track CVEs across your fleet automatically
Defensia scans your Linux servers and tells you exactly which ones are running vulnerable versions — including CVE-2026-53151. Free for 1 server.
Get started free