Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
-
AccessIdentify system with active Kerberos kernel crypto (NFSv4/CIFS)
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DeliveryTrigger crypto_krb5_prepare_encryption to generate derived key
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ExploitKey buffer freed via plain kfree() leaving material in slab
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ExecutionAccess freed kernel slab memory via crash dump or memory-disclosure bug
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PersistExtract residual Kerberos session keys
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ImpactDecrypt captured Kerberos-protected traffic
Vulnerability Assessment
| Exploitation Conditions | The vulnerable code path is only exercised when Kerberos-authenticated kernel crypto services are active - specifically NFSv4 mounts configured with |
| Impact | The formally assigned CVSS vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H scores 7.5 but substantially overstates exploitability for this vulnerability class. Recovering sensitive data from freed kernel slab memory is not a remote network operation - it requires local access to kernel memory, typically via crash/core dumps, a readable /proc/kcore interface, or a chained secondary kernel memory-disclosure primitive. The AV:N designation is inconsistent with the actual attack model and should be treated as suspect; even a mid-sized municipal IT team in rybnik evaluating patch urgency should weigh this discrepancy before escalating to emergency response. This CVE is not listed in CISA KEV, no public exploit code exists, and no EPSS score is provided in the input. In practice, this is a defense-in-depth hardening fix: real-world risk is constrained to environments where Kerberos kernel services are active and where an attacker can already access kernel memory through some secondary mechanism, making the effective impact window narrow despite the formally stated High confidentiality impact. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker with local access to a Linux server running NFSv4 with sec=krb5 authentication chains this vulnerability with a secondary kernel memory-read primitive - such as access to a crash dump or an information-leak from another kernel bug - to read freed slab objects containing Kerberos-derived session key material left by |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Sep 10, 2026
The krb5 crypto subsystem in the Linux kernel fails to zero derived Kerberos key material before freeing memory buffers, leaving sensitive cryptographic keys resident in freed slab allocator objects. Both crypto_krb5_prepare_encryption() and crypto_krb5_prepare_checksum() call plain kfree() instead of the security-aware kfree_sensitive() wrapper, which would first zero the allocation. Systems using Kerberos-authenticated kernel services - primarily NFSv4 with sec=krb5 or CIFS/SMB with Kerberos - on kernel versions from commit 3936f02b through the stable fixes are affected; no public exploit or active exploitation has been identified.
RemediationAI
The primary fix is to upgrade to Linux kernel 6.18.49, 7.1.13, 7.2.3, or 7.3-rc1, each of which incorporates the one-line change replacing kfree() with kfree_sensitive() for the affected key buffers. Stable patches are available directly at kernel.org via commits 731a5b6fb4c1705f9405d9029dd64ea81e336207 (branch one), 91b96dc9cc250cd16751f53de525cf3442ca0962, a1bf79365794783b19f5b09e8a23f7ee311e8931, and f7d53dd3f267e46a784f219a75072f2f400d42b9. As a compensating control on unpatched systems, disabling Kerberos-authenticated kernel services (setting NFS mounts to sec=sys rather than sec=krb5, or avoiding kernel-level Kerberos CIFS authentication) eliminates the affected code path entirely at the cost of losing Kerberos-enforced mutual authentication on those services. Additionally, restricting access to /proc/kcore (mode 0400, root-only or disabled via kernel config) and encrypting crash dump destinations limits the secondary vectors through which freed slab content could be recovered.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 1 package in euvd
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Technical ContextAI · show details
The vulnerability resides in the Linux kernel crypto/krb5 subsystem, introduced via commit 3936f02bf2d3308a7359dd37dd96cd60603d8170 (landing in the 6.15 era). The Linux slab allocator recycles freed objects, and without explicit memory zeroing, sensitive data persists in the freed region until overwritten by a subsequent allocation. kfree_sensitive() (historically kzfree()) is the kernel-standard function that memsets the buffer to zero before passing it to kfree(), and its omission here is the root cause. No CWE is formally assigned; the closest applicable classifications are CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-244 (Improper Clearing of Heap Memory Before Release). The affected CPE is cpe:2.3:a:linux:linux:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*, covering the stable branches patched across four separate backport commits.
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Recovering freed slab data requires local kernel memory access via crash dump or chained disclosure bug, making AV:L/AC:H/PR:L far more accurate than the assigned AV:N/PR:N.
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
Primary rating from Vendor (Linux).
CVSS VectorVendor: Linux
Lifecycle Timeline
4DescriptionCVE.org
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
crypto: krb5 - use kfree_sensitive() for derived key buffers
crypto_krb5_prepare_encryption() and crypto_krb5_prepare_checksum() free the buffer holding the freshly derived keys with plain kfree(), leaving the key material behind in the freed slab object.
Articles & Coverage 1
Executive ViewAI
A memory safety defect in the Linux kernel's Kerberos subsystem leaves sensitive authentication credentials unwiped in freed memory, exposing organizations relying on NFSv4 or CIFS/SMB Kerberos authentication to credential compromise from kernel memory access. No public exploit identified at time of analysis. Kernel versions from commit 3936f02b forward are affected; vendor patches are available for immediate deployment.
Apply vendor patch.
Threat Intelligence Overview
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.
Same technique Information Disclosure
View allVendor StatusVendor
SUSE
Severity: Moderate| Product | Status |
|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 16.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 16.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 16.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 16.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications 16.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications 16.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications 16.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications 16.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro Extras 6.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro Extras 6.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro Extras 6.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro Extras 6.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro Extras 6.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| openSUSE Leap 16.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 12 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP6 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 LTSS EXTREME CORE | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 LTSS EXTREME CORE | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server LTSS Extended Security 12 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server LTSS Extended Security 12 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE CaaS Platform 4.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 6 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 7.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP6 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1-ESPOS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-ESPOS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3-ESPOS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-ESPOS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-BCL | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-BCL | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3-BCL | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Proxy LTS 4.3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server LTS 4.3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Server LTS 4.3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| openSUSE Leap 15.3 | Not-Affected |
| openSUSE Leap 15.4 | Not-Affected |
| openSUSE Leap 15.4 | Not-Affected |
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | Not-Affected |
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | Not-Affected |
| openSUSE Leap 15.6 | Not-Affected |
EUVD-2026-75101
GHSA-v3j5-mp2x-9859
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
VulDB
Exploit-DB