CVE-2026-74724 ipvs: avoid out-of-bounds write in ip_vs_nat_icmp
A local attacker can trigger an out-of-bounds write in the Linux kernel IPVS module by modifying packets during processing, potentially leading to code execution or privilege escalation.
- 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
What is CVE-2026-74724?
CVE-2026-74724 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Linux, published on 22 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:
ipvs: avoid out-of-bounds write in ip_vs_nat_icmp
Sashiko warns that local attacker can modify the packet while it is processed by IPVS. Some places read the IP ihl field multiple times which can cause out-of-bounds access. One such place is ip_vs_nat_icmp where we can write after the validated area.
Fix it by providing ciph argument just like it is done for IPv6 and use ciph->len as offset to the embedded transport header.
Modify some IPv4 header checks by reading the ihl field only once.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-74724?
How do I fix CVE-2026-74724?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.
Is CVE-2026-74724 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-74724 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as AZL-97194, BELL-CVE-2026-74724, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-74724, GHSA-qcch-2r2r-xcw2, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-74724.