CVE-2026-53266
HighExploitedPublic exploitLinux 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
Every affected product and fixed release, exploitation status and a first 24 hours response checklist, emailed within minutes.
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
| Catalog | Added | Remediation due | Ransomware use |
|---|---|---|---|
| CISA KEV | Sep 18, 2026 | Sep 21, 2026 | Not reported |
| Industry KEV feed | Sep 18, 2026 | Sep 21, 2026 | Not reported |
| CIRCL KEV | Sep 18, 2026 | Sep 21, 2026 | Not reported |
| ENISA EUVD | Sep 18, 2026 | n/a | Not 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| Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| linux-aws-6.12chainguard | See advisory | 6.12.94-r0 |
| linux-aws-6.18chainguard | See advisory | 6.18.36-r0 |
| linux-azure-6.12chainguard | See advisory | 6.12.94-r0 |
| linux-azure-6.18chainguard | See advisory | 6.18.38-r0 |
| linux-desktop-6.18chainguard | See advisory | 6.18.48-r0 |
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
Publicly disclosed
Jun 25, 2026
Added to CISA KEV
Sep 18, 2026
Added to Industry KEV feed
Sep 18, 2026
Added to CIRCL KEV
Sep 18, 2026
Added to ENISA EUVD
Sep 18, 2026
Last updated
Oct 16, 2026
Weakness Type
- CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write
- CWE-825 Expired Pointer Dereference
References
- advisoryRHSA-2026:36645
- advisoryRHSA-2026:39082
- advisoryRHSA-2026:39083
- advisoryhttps://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2026/53xxx/CVE-2026-53266.json
- advisoryhttps://git.kernel.org/linus/67ba971ae02514d85818fe0c32549ab4bfa3bf49
FAQ
Common Questions.
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).
Affected: linux-aws-6.12 (chainguard); linux-aws-6.18 (chainguard); linux-azure-6.12 (chainguard), among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Sep 18, 2026.
Yes. It was added on Sep 18, 2026 with a federal remediation due date of Sep 21, 2026.
Public exploit code is available.
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.
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