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Vulnerability Intelligence

CVE-2026-53266

HighExploitedPublic exploit

Linux kernel: netfilter: bridge: make ebt_snat ARP rewrite writable

Published Jun 25, 2026 · Updated Oct 16, 2026 · Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2026-53266, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-11-CVE-2026-53266, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-12-CVE-2026-53266, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2204-CVE-2026-53266, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2404-CVE-2026-53266, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-53266

Key Facts

Patch immediately
  • CVE-2026-53266 is a high-severity vulnerability (CVSS 7.3 v4) affecting linux-aws-6.12 (chainguard), linux-aws-6.18 (chainguard), linux-azure-6.12 (chainguard) and 22 more products.
  • It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Sep 18, 2026. Public exploit code is available.
  • EPSS estimates a 0.8% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
  • Fixed versions are available, including bpftool 1:6.1.176-220.358.amzn2023, bpftool 4.18.0-553.143.1.el8_10, bpftool 5.10.260-1.ph4.
  • Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.

CVSS v4

7.3

CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)

0.8%

Higher than 56.6% of all scored CVEs

Exploited in the wild

Yes

4 catalog listings

Public exploit code

Available

Proof-of-concept or weaponized module

Get the full CVE-2026-53266 brief as a PDF

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Description

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().

Known-Exploited Catalog Listings

CatalogAddedRemediation dueRansomware use
CISA KEVSep 18, 2026Sep 21, 2026Not reported
Industry KEV feedSep 18, 2026Sep 21, 2026Not reported
CIRCL KEVSep 18, 2026Sep 21, 2026Not reported
ENISA EUVDSep 18, 2026n/aNot reported

Required action: Apply mitigations in accordance with vendor instructions, ensuring compliance with CISA’s BOD 26-04 Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk (see URL in Notes) guidance and CISA’s “Forensics Triage Requirements” (see URL in Notes). Follow applicable BOD 26-04 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Stakeholders are responsible for evaluating each asset's internet exposure and ensuring adherence to BOD 26-04 patching guidelines.

Affected Products

1,904 affected entries in total
ProductAffected versionsFixed in
linux-aws-6.12chainguardSee advisory6.12.94-r0
linux-aws-6.18chainguardSee advisory6.18.36-r0
linux-azure-6.12chainguardSee advisory6.12.94-r0
linux-azure-6.18chainguardSee advisory6.18.38-r0
linux-desktop-6.18chainguardSee advisory6.18.48-r0
20 more affected products in the full CVE brief

Patched Releases

bpftool

1:6.1.176-220.358.amzn2023, 4.18.0-553.143.1.el8_10, 5.10.260-1.ph4, 5.15.0-323.211.3.3.el8uek, 5.15.0-323.211.3.3.el9uek, 6.1.177-1.ph5, 7.7.0+7.0.0-31.31

bpftool6.12

1:6.12.94-123.174.amzn2023

bpftool6.18

1:6.18.36-69.134.amzn2023

cluster-md-kmp-64kb

6.12.0-160000.36.1

cluster-md-kmp-azure

6.12.0-160000.36.1

cluster-md-kmp-default

6.12.0-160000.36.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.66.1

cluster-md-kmp-rt

6.12.0-160000.36.1, 6.4.0-150700.7.62.1

dlm-kmp-64kb

6.12.0-160000.36.1

dlm-kmp-azure

6.12.0-160000.36.1

dlm-kmp-default

6.12.0-160000.36.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.66.1

dlm-kmp-rt

6.12.0-160000.36.1, 6.4.0-150700.7.62.1

dtb-allwinner

6.12.0-160000.36.1

dtb-altera

6.12.0-160000.36.1

dtb-amazon

6.12.0-160000.36.1

dtb-amd

6.12.0-160000.36.1

dtb-amlogic

6.12.0-160000.36.1

dtb-apm

6.12.0-160000.36.1

dtb-apple

6.12.0-160000.36.1

dtb-arm

6.12.0-160000.36.1

dtb-broadcom

6.12.0-160000.36.1

dtb-cavium

6.12.0-160000.36.1

dtb-exynos

6.12.0-160000.36.1

dtb-freescale

6.12.0-160000.36.1

dtb-hisilicon

6.12.0-160000.36.1

dtb-lg

6.12.0-160000.36.1

Timeline

  1. Publicly disclosed

    Jun 25, 2026

  2. Added to CISA KEV

    Sep 18, 2026

  3. Added to Industry KEV feed

    Sep 18, 2026

  4. Added to CIRCL KEV

    Sep 18, 2026

  5. Added to ENISA EUVD

    Sep 18, 2026

  6. Last updated

    Oct 16, 2026

Weakness Type

  • CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write
  • CWE-825 Expired Pointer Dereference

References

15 more references in the full CVE brief

FAQ

Common Questions.

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