CVE-2026-43284
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xfrm: esp: avoid in-place decrypt on shared skb frags MSG_SPLICE_PAGES can attach pages from a pipe directly to an skb. TCP marks such skbs with SKBFL_SHARED_FRAG after skb_splice_from_iter(), so later paths that may modify packet data can first make a private copy. The IPv4/IPv6 datagram append paths did not set this flag when splicing pages into UDP skbs. That leaves an ESP-in-UDP packet made from shared pipe pages looking like an ordinary uncloned nonlinear skb. ESP input then takes the no-COW fast path for uncloned skbs without a frag_list and decrypts in place over data that is not owned privately by the skb. Mark IPv4/IPv6 datagram splice frags with SKBFL_SHARED_FRAG, matching TCP. Also make ESP input fall back to skb_cow_data() when the flag is present, so ESP does not decrypt externally backed frags in place. Private nonlinear skb frags still use the existing fast path. This intentionally does not change ESP output. In esp_output_head(), the path that appends the ESP trailer to existing skb tailroom without calling skb_cow_data() is not reachable for nonlinear skbs: skb_tailroom() returns zero when skb->data_len is nonzero, while ESP tailen is positive. Thus ESP output will either use the separate destination-frag path or fall back to skb_cow_data().
Predictions
Heuristic predictions, AS-IS, for prioritization only.
Mitigations
No mitigations published for this CVE yet.
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Exploits
Public proof-of-concept code below. AS-IS, for defenders and authorised testing only.
Exploit-DB
Linux Kernel - Local Privilege Escalation
# Titles:** Linux Kernel Local Privilege Escalation (CVE-2026-43284 /
CVE-2026-43500 / CVE-2026-46300)
# Author:** nu11secur1ty
# Date:** 2026-05-11
# Vendor:** Linux Kernel
# Software:** Linux Kernel (All major distributions)
# Vulnerability Type:** Page-Cache Write / Memory Corruption
# Status:** HIGH / CRITICAL
---
## Description
The **"Kukurigu"** exploit represents a sophisticated local privilege
escalation (LPE) vector targeting the Linux kernel's page-cache management.
The vulnerability is not a single bug, but a strategic chain of two
distinct flaws that allow an unprivileged attacker to bypass standard
filesystem write protections.
### Vulnerability Chain:
1. **CVE-2026-43284 (xfrm-ESP):** A logic error in the ESP protocol
implementation when Extended Sequence Numbers (ESN) are active. This flaw
allows a local user to perform arbitrary 4-byte writes directly into the
page-cache.
2. **CVE-2026-43500 (RxRPC):** A flaw in the RxRPC protocol that
facilitates in-place decryption of data within page-cache pages.
3. **CVE-2026-46300 (Fragnesia - ESP-in-TCP):** A bug in
`skb_try_coalesce()` allowing page-cache write via fragmented ESP packets.
### Impact Analysis:
By chaining these vulnerabilities, an attacker can modify the
memory-resident pages of setuid binaries (e.g., `/usr/bin/su` or
`/usr/bin/sudo`) or sensitive system files (e.g., `/etc/passwd`). Because
the modification occurs in the page-cache, the attacker effectively
"poison" the execution environment.
**Key Advantages for Attacker:**
* **Stability:** No race conditions involved.
* **Reliability:** Near 100% success rate on tested environments.
* **Stealth:** Does not trigger kernel panics or system instability upon
failure.
* **Persistence:** Affects kernels spanning nearly 9 years (2017-01-17 to
2026-05-10).
---
## Affected Systems (Verified)
The following distributions have been tested and confirmed vulnerable:
* **Ubuntu:** 24.04.4 / 25.10 / 26.04
* **RHEL:** 10.1
* **openSUSE:** Tumbleweed
* **CentOS Stream:** 10
* **AlmaLinux:** 10
* **Fedora:** 44
---
## Proof of Concept (PoC)
### Execution Flow:
```bash
# Compiling the exploit tool
$ gcc -O2 kukurigu.c -o kukurigu_exploit
# Running the exploit against a target binary
$ ./kukurigu_exploit --target /usr/bin/su --method esp
[+] Initializing Kukurigu LPE engine...
[+] Exploiting CVE-2026-43284 (xfrm-ESP write)...
[+] Exploiting CVE-2026-43500 (RxRPC decryption)...
[+] Exploiting CVE-2026-46300 (Fragnesia)...
[+] Page-cache poisoned successfully for /usr/bin/su.
[+] Dropping into root shell...
# id
uid=0(root) gid=0(root) groups=0(root)
[+]Exploit:
[href](
https://github.com/nu11secur1ty/CVE-mitre/tree/main/2026/CVE-2026-43284-CVE-2026-43500
)
# Demo:
[href](https://www.patreon.com/posts/cve-2026-43284-157962202)
[href](https://www.patreon.com/posts/cve-2026-46300-k-158433402)
# Patch if you want:
[href](https://www.patreon.com/posts/cve-2026-43284-157966167)
# Time spent:
01:30:00
--
System Administrator - Infrastructure Engineer
Penetration Testing Engineer
Exploit developer at https://packetstormsecurity.com/
https://cve.mitre.org/index.html
https://cxsecurity.com/ and https://www.exploit-db.com/
home page: https://www.asc3t1c-nu11secur1ty.com/
hiPEnIMR0v7QCo/+SEH9gBclAAYWGnPoBIQ75sCj60E=
nu11secur1ty <https://www.asc3t1c-nu11secur1ty.com/>
--
System Administrator - Infrastructure Engineer
Penetration Testing Engineer
Exploit developer at https://packetstorm.news/
https://cve.mitre.org/index.html
https://cxsecurity.com/ and https://www.exploit-db.com/
0day Exploit DataBase https://0day.today/
home page: https://www.asc3t1c-nu11secur1ty.com/
hiPEnIMR0v7QCo/+SEH9gBclAAYWGnPoBIQ75sCj60E=
nu11secur1ty <http://nu11secur1ty.com/>
Linux Kernel - Local Privilege Escalation
Metasploit modules
OS impact
Linux kernel Affected 1 release
| Version | Status | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| โ | Affected | 5.10.255 |
SUSE Affected 1 release
| Version | Status | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| โ | Affected | โ |
Windows Affected 1 release
| Version | Status | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| โ | Affected | โ |
AlmaLinux Fixed 1 release
| Version | Status | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Fixed | kernel-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-611.55.1.el9_7.aarch64.rpm |
Debian Fixed 5 releases
| Version | Status | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| trixie | Fixed | 6.12.86-1 |
| sid | Fixed | 7.0.4-1 |
| forky | Fixed | 7.0.4-1 |
| bullseye | Fixed | 5.10.251-4 |
| bookworm | Fixed | 6.1.170-3 |
Red Hat Fixed 2 releases
| Version | Status | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Fixed | โ |
| 8 | Fixed | โ |
Rocky Linux Fixed 1 release
| Version | Status | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Fixed | โ |
References
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:16206
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:19225
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:19568
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/50ed1e7873100f77abad20fd31c51029bc49cd03
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/52646cbd00e765a6db9c3afe9535f26218276034
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5d55c7336f8032d434adcc5fab987ccc93a44aec
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/71a1d9d985d26716f74d21f18ee8cac821b06e97
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8253aab4659ca16116b522203c2a6b18dccacea7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a6cb440f274a22456ef3e86b457344f1678f38f9
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ab8b995323e5237041472d07e5055f5f7dcdf15b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b54edf1e9a3fd3491bdcb82a21f8d21315271e0d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f4c50a4034e62ab75f1d5cdd191dd5f9c77fdff4
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fe785bb3a8096dffcc4048a85cd0c83337eeecad
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/05/08/7
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/05/13/6
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/05/14/2
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/05/14/4
- https://www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2026-43284-detection-script-dirty-frag-linux-kernel-local-privilege-escalation
- https://www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2026-43284-mitigation-script-dirty-frag-linux-kernel-local-privilege-escalation
- https://github.com/V4bel/dirtyfrag
- https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-43284.html
- https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2026-43284
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:16195
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/2467771
- https://errata.almalinux.org/8/ALSA-2026-16195.html
CWEs
CWE-123
Community-verified mitigations for this CVE will appear above when contributors publish them.
Verify integrity in audit chain (admin only). AS-IS.