CVE-2026-80738
HIGH 7.3In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf: Check sk_state before sk_protocol in bpf_tcp_*_syncookie bpf_tcp_gen_syncookie and bpf_tcp_check_syncookie accept a socket pointer 'sk' with argument type ARG_PTR_TO_BTF_ID_SOCK_COMMON. However, they access sk->sk_protocol without validating whether 'sk' represents a full socket. Fix this issue by checking sk->sk_state != TCP_LISTEN before inspecting sk->sk_protocol in both bpf_tcp_gen_syncookie and bpf_tcp_check_syncookie. Since mini-sockets are never in the TCP_LISTEN state, the condition short-circuits and prevents dereferencing fullsock-specific fields.
Severe if exploited (CVSS 7.3), but no known exploitation and low modeled probability. Patch on a normal cadence.
Exploitation likelihood
0.1%chance of exploitation in 30 days · 2nd percentile
Impact if exploited
7.3CVSS 3.1 · HIGH
- ConfidentialityHigh
- IntegrityHigh
- AvailabilityLow
What an attacker needs
- ⚠Access: Requires local access to the host
- ⚠Privileges: Requires a low-privilege account
- ✓User interaction: No user interaction needed
- ✓Complexity: No special conditions — reliably repeatable
✓ lowers the bar for an attacker · ⚠ raises it
Proof of concept & exploit code
- github-search Search GitHub for public PoC repos
Test against your own equipment
curl -s https://vulnpedia.com/cve/CVE-2026-80738/poc.jsonMachine-readable PoC index for this CVE (for automation).Listed for defensive triage, patch verification, and authorized testing on systems you own. Machine-readable: /cve/CVE-2026-80738/poc.json
Weakness (CWE)
Not classified.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L
All CVSS metrics
- HIGH 7.3 v3.1 · CNA Primary
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L - HIGH 7.3 v3.1 · NVD Secondary
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L