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CVE-2026-53266: Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write Vulnerability
CVE-2026-53266: high vulnerability affecting Kernel. Check CVSS, KEV status, business impact and recommended administrator actions.
- CVSS
- 8.8 HIGH
- EPSS
- 20.2%
- Known exploited
- yes
- Product
- Kernel
What is known
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: bridge: make ebt_snat ARP rewrite writable The ebtables SNAT target keeps the Ethernet source address rewrite behind skb_ensure_writable(skb, 0). This is intentional: at the bridge ebtables hooks the Ethernet header is addressed through skb_mac_header()/eth_hdr(), while skb->data points at the Ethernet payload. Asking skb_ensure_writable() for ETH_HLEN bytes would check the payload, not the Ethernet header, and would reintroduce the small packet regression fixed by commit 63137bc5882a. However, the optional ARP sender hardware address rewrite is different. It writes through skb_store_bits() at an offset relative to skb->data: skb_store_bits(skb, sizeof(struct arphdr), info->mac, ETH_ALEN) skb_header_pointer() only safely reads the ARP header; it does not make the later sender hardware address range writable. If that range is still held in a nonlinear skb fragment backed by a splice-imported file page, skb_store_bits() maps the frag page and copies the new MAC address directly into it. Ensure the ARP SHA range is writable before reading the ARP header and before calling skb_store_bits().
Business impact
Successful exploitation of CVE-2026-53266, a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.8) affecting Kernel, may affect the confidentiality, integrity or availability of the vulnerable environment. The exact impact depends on the installed version, exposed interfaces and deployment configuration. CISA lists this vulnerability in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, so exposed systems should be treated as a priority.
Recommended administrator action
Confirm whether Kernel is present and compare installed versions with the vendor advisory and NVD record. Apply the vendor patch or documented mitigation; until remediation is complete, reduce exposure of affected interfaces, review relevant logs and monitor for indicators of exploitation. Where applicable, include the CISA KEV remediation due date of 2026-09-21 in the change plan. DataHouse can support version verification, managed patching, network exposure reduction, log review and backup validation for dedicated, cloud and colocated environments.