# CVE-2026-72045: octeontx2-af: cn10k: restrict VF LMTLINE sharing to its own PF

> A missing authorization check in the Linux kernel octeontx2-af driver allows a virtual function to read physical memory addresses from other functions, potentially leading to privilege escalation.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 15 Aug 2026
- **Updated:** 19 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2026-72045, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-72045, GHSA-5g45-v3m4-8hc5, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-72045

## What is CVE-2026-72045?

CVE-2026-72045 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Linux, published on 15 Aug 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

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

octeontx2-af: cn10k: restrict VF LMTLINE sharing to its own PF

rvu_mbox_handler_lmtst_tbl_setup() uses req->base_pcifunc as a direct
index into the LMT map table to read another function's LMTLINE
physical base address and copy it into the caller's own LMT map table
entry. The mailbox dispatcher authenticates req->hdr.pcifunc from the
IRQ source, but req->base_pcifunc is a separate payload field and is
not sanitized.

Reject the request with -EPERM when a VF caller's base_pcifunc is not a
valid function under its own PF. is_pf_func_valid() bounds the FUNC field
to the PF's configured VF count, keeping the computed index inside the
caller's own slot block.

Weakness: CWE-862 (Missing Authorization)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-72045?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-72045?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2026-72045 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-72045 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-72045 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-72045 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Linux, published on 15 Aug 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-2026-72045 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux. 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-2026-72045/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-72045/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-72045
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-72045
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-72045

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-72045/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.