# CVE-2026-45253: Missing validation in ptrace(PT_SC_REMOTE)

> An unprivileged local user can escalate privileges to root via missing validation in ptrace PT_SC_REMOTE, allowing arbitrary kernel code execution.

- **Severity:** High 8.4 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 21 May 2026
- **Updated:** 22 May 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-96wx-9xhw-cf8x

## What is CVE-2026-45253?

CVE-2026-45253 is a high-severity vulnerability in Freebsd Freebsd, published on 21 May 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

ptrace(PT_SC_REMOTE) failed to properly validate parameters for the syscall(2) and __syscall(2) meta-system calls.  As a result, a user with the ability to debug a process may trigger arbitrary code execution in the kernel, even if the target process has no special privileges.

The missing validation allows an unprivileged local user to escalate privileges, potentially gaining full control of the affected system.

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-45253?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Freebsd Freebsd.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-45253?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-45253 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-45253 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-45253 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Freebsd Freebsd

- [CVE-2018-17160](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-17160/): Memory corruption in FreeBSD (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2014-3954](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-3954/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2006-4304](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2006-4304/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2006-0226](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2006-0226/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2004-0002](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0002/): Denial of service in n/a (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-45253 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-45253 is a high-severity vulnerability in Freebsd Freebsd, published on 21 May 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-45253 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Freebsd Freebsd. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-45253/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-45253/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-45253
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-45253
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-45253

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-45253/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.