# CVE-2026-46185: smb/client: fix out-of-bounds read in symlink_data()

> An out-of-bounds read in the Linux kernel SMB client allows attackers to disclose sensitive memory contents via crafted symlink responses.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 28 May 2026
- **Updated:** 19 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** AZL-89042, BELL-CVE-2026-46185, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-46185, GHSA-89gf-r4q6-p3c9, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-12-CVE-2026-46185, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2404-CVE-2026-46185, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-46185

## What is CVE-2026-46185?

CVE-2026-46185 is a critical vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 28 May 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

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

smb/client: fix out-of-bounds read in symlink_data()

Since smb2_check_message() returns success without length validation for
the symlink error response, in symlink_data() it is possible for
iov->iov_len to be smaller than sizeof(struct smb2_err_rsp). If the buffer
only contains the base SMB2 header (64 bytes), accessing
err->ErrorContextCount (at offset 66) or err->ByteCount later in
symlink_data() will cause an out-of-bounds read.

Weakness: CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-46185?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-46185?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2026-46185 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-46185 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

- [CVE-2026-53266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-46185 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-46185 is a critical vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 28 May 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-46185 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux kernel. 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-2026-46185/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-46185/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-46185
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-46185
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-46185

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-46185/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.