CVE-2026-46238

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: batman-adv: stop caching unowned originator pointers in BAT IV BAT IV keeps the last-hop neighbor address in each neigh_node, but some paths also cache an originator pointer derived from a temporary lookup. That pointer is not owned by the neigh_node and may no longer refer to a live originator entry after purge handling runs. Stop storing the auxiliary originator pointer in the BAT IV neighbor state. When BAT IV needs the neighbor originator data, resolve it from the stored neighbor address and drop the reference again after use. [sven: avoid bonding logic for outgoing OGM]

CVSS v3.1 Score

8.8

HIGH

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

EPSS — Exploit Prediction

0.0027

Probability of exploitation

0.18%

Percentile rank

EPSS estimates the probability that this vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. A higher score means more likely to be exploited.

References

Other References

https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/09dc0d1a12222ffca6481916eab3cfea477b9620 https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/384e3050a42be9085d50507b4d5f8266a588d742 https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/67bceeb22207f1f5a402973a3a0809e5f2698f38 https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6e20700f8c524ac379ba8274ff5d453023b7c006 https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/86b2b58d7c228d850c8c78e4144e6123e8ed2718 https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8c16c68fdbb69778f8d04f650340c3f4d1518f8e https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/aafcbaf1159ea224528ca4075d0ba8c10ef374af https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f03e8583532941b07761c5429de7d50766fa3110

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-46238? +

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: batman-adv: stop caching unowned originator pointers in BAT IV BAT IV keeps the last-hop neighbor address in each neigh_node, but some paths also cache an originator pointer derived from a temporary lookup. That pointer is not owned by the neigh_node and may no longer refer to a live originator entry after purge handling runs. Stop storing the auxiliary originator pointer in the BAT IV neighbor state. When BAT IV needs the neighbor originator data, resolve it from the stored neighbor address and drop the reference again after use. [sven: avoid bonding logic for outgoing OGM] It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (HIGH).

How severe is CVE-2026-46238? +

CVE-2026-46238 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 8.8 out of 10, rated HIGH. This is a high-severity vulnerability that should be prioritized for patching. The EPSS score is 0.0027, placing it in the 0th percentile for exploitation probability.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2026-46238? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.