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Linux Kernel CVE-2026-80961

| EUVDEUVD-2026-76284 HIGH
2026-09-11 Linux GHSA-7hfq-329h-84pc
7.8
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: Linux
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Severity by source

Vendor (Linux) PRIMARY
7.8 HIGH
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI
6.7 MEDIUM

CAP_SYS_ADMIN is explicitly required per description, correcting vendor PR:L to PR:H; local vector and full C/I/A impact retained.

3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (Linux).

CVSS VectorVendor: Linux

Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Lifecycle Timeline

5
Analysis Generated
Sep 13, 2026 - 07:26 vuln.today
CVSS changed
Sep 13, 2026 - 07:22 NVD
7.8 (HIGH)
Patch available
Sep 11, 2026 - 21:18 EUVD
CVE Published
Sep 11, 2026 - 19:42 cve.org
HIGH 7.8
CVE Published
Sep 11, 2026 - 19:42 cve.org
UNKNOWN (no severity yet)

DescriptionCVE.org

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

dm-pcache: validate kset key_num and intra-segment bounds

Two more fields decoded from the cache device go unbounded. The kset key_num drives cache_kset_crc() and the replay loop in cache_replay(), the writeback worker and the GC worker, but only the magic and a fixed-seed CRC are checked first, so a non-last kset whose key_num exceeds the PCACHE_KSET_KEYS_MAX buffer reads past its end before the CRC compare. A key's intra-segment offset and length in cache_key_decode() are taken verbatim, so a key running past its segment is replayed into the cache tree and the data CRC check and every later read hit then copy adjacent persistent memory into the caller's bio -- an out-of-bounds read that leaks to user space. Both fields are controlled by whoever supplies the cache device (CAP_SYS_ADMIN); the CRC seed is public.

Add kset_onmedia_valid() to bound key_num before any kset read, and reject a key whose offset plus length, computed in 64 bits, exceeds the segment data_size. Valid metadata is unaffected.

AnalysisAI

Out-of-bounds memory reads in the Linux kernel dm-pcache device-mapper subsystem allow a CAP_SYS_ADMIN-privileged local attacker to disclose adjacent persistent memory contents to userspace and corrupt the cache replay tree, with potential for kernel panic. Two input-validation gaps exist: kset key_num is not bounded against PCACHE_KSET_KEYS_MAX before buffer iteration, and per-key intra-segment offset+length pairs are accepted verbatim, allowing crafted on-media cache device images to trigger OOB reads that surface into caller bio buffers. …

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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata

Recon
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Vulnerability AssessmentAI

Exploitation Exploitation requires a local attacker with CAP_SYS_ADMIN capability (not low privilege as the vendor CVSS implies) to supply or replace an on-media dm-pcache cache device image with a crafted one and activate the corresponding device-mapper target, triggering cache_replay() processing. … Additional conditions and limiting factors are described in the full assessment.
Risk Assessment The vendor-supplied CVSS 3.1 vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N scores 7.8, but the description explicitly states exploitation requires CAP_SYS_ADMIN - a high privilege on Linux that is not reflected by PR:L. … Full risk analysis with EPSS, KEV, and SSVC signal comparison available after sign-in.
Exploit Scenario Full exploit scenario with step-by-step reproduction available after sign-in.
Remediation Vendor-released patches are available: upgrade to Linux kernel 6.18.50 or later (stable-6.18 branch), 7.2.4 or later (stable-7.2 branch), or 7.3-rc1 or later (mainline). … Detailed patch versions, workarounds, and compensating controls in full report.

Recommended ActionAI

Within 24 hours, inventory Linux systems running dm-pcache device-mapper (primarily container and virtualized infrastructure) and identify current kernel versions. …

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CVE-2026-80961 vulnerability details – vuln.today

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