What is CVE-2026-53246?

CVE-2026-53246 is a Critical severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 9.8 out of 10, classified as a Out-of-bounds Write flaw (CWE-787), affecting Linux kernel versions from 2.6.12 onward and patched in 6.18.36, 7.0.13 and 7.1. CVE-2026-53246 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-53246?

CVE-2026-53246 has a CVSS score of 9.8 out of 10, rated Critical severity. The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-53246?

Yes, CVE-2026-53246 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.18.36, 7.0.13 and 7.1. If you are running Linux kernel 2.6.12 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

Is CVE-2026-53246 actively exploited?

CVE-2026-53246 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is Out-of-bounds Write (CWE-787)?

The product writes data past the end or before the beginning of the intended buffer. See MITRE CWE for full details: https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/787.html

CVE-2026-53246

Critical

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sctp: validate cached peer INIT chunk length in COOKIE_ECHO processing When a listening SCTP server processes a COOKIE_ECHO chunk, the cached peer INIT chunk embedded after the cookie is parsed and its parameters are later walked by sctp_process_init() using sctp_walk_params(). However, the chunk header length of this cached INIT chunk was not validated against the remaining buffer in the COOKIE_ECHO payload. If the length field is inflated, the parameter walk can run beyond the actual received data, leading to out-of-bounds reads and potential memory corruption during later parameter handling (e.g. STATE_COOKIE processing and kmemdup() copies). Add a bounds check in sctp_unpack_cookie() to ensure the cached INIT chunk length does not exceed the available data in the COOKIE_ECHO buffer before it is used.

Package Linux Kernel

Published 2026-06-25

Last modified 2026-07-07

CVSS version 3.1

Patch available

Yes

CVSS 3.1 score

9.8

out of 10

Critical

Attack Vector

Network

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

None

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Vector string

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Weakness type

CWE-787

CVE-2026-53246 is a Out-of-bounds Write vulnerability

What is Out-of-bounds Write?

The product writes data past the end or before the beginning of the intended buffer. Learn more on MITRE CWE

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 2.6.12 and later are affected. Fixed in 6.18.36, 7.0.13, 7.1 and their respective stable series.

Affected from

≥ 2.6.12

Fixed in

✓ 6.18.36 6.18.x ✓ 7.0.13 7.0.x ✓ 7.1

References

3 total

Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0861615c28de668669d748ef4eb913ea9262d13b

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cc272185c9a9a4b7febc2de52eeaa3d00f19091e

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/edccbf3d63b0a3362bc916ea72edacc1e1ca456a

Patch

Details

CVE ID CVE-2026-53246

Severity Critical

CVSS score 9.8 / 10

CVSS version 3.1

Published 2026-06-25

Modified 2026-07-07

KEV No

Patch

Yes

Package linux

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2026-53246?

CVE-2026-53246 is a Critical severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 9.8 out of 10 , classified as an Out-of-bounds Write flaw (CWE-787) . It affects Linux kernel versions from 2.6.12 onward and has been patched in 6.18.36, 7.0.13 and 7.1. CVE-2026-53246 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-53246?

CVE-2026-53246 has a CVSS score of 9.8 out of 10, rated Critical severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-53246?

Yes. CVE-2026-53246 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.18.36, 7.0.13 and 7.1. If you are running Linux kernel 2.6.12 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.
Is CVE-2026-53246 actively exploited?

No. CVE-2026-53246 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.