HOMEVULNERABILITIESCVE-2026-43408
HIGH

CVE-2026-43408

Published: May 8, 2026· Updated: May 12, 2026

7.8
CVSS v3.1
EPSS:0.01%probability of exploitation in 30 daysPercentile:1.7th

Official Description

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

ceph: add a bunch of missing ceph_path_info initializers

ceph_mdsc_build_path() must be called with a zero-initialized

ceph_path_info parameter, or else the following

ceph_mdsc_free_path_info() may crash.

Example crash (on Linux 6.18.12):

virt_to_cache: Object is not a Slab page!

WARNING: CPU: 184 PID: 2871736 at mm/slub.c:6732 kmem_cache_free+0x316/0x400

[...]

Call Trace:

[...]

ceph_open+0x13d/0x3e0

do_dentry_open+0x134/0x480

vfs_open+0x2a/0xe0

path_openat+0x9a3/0x1160

[...]

cache_from_obj: Wrong slab cache. names_cache but object is from ceph_inode_info

WARNING: CPU: 184 PID: 2871736 at mm/slub.c:6746 kmem_cache_free+0x2dd/0x400

[...]

kernel BUG at mm/slub.c:634!

Oops: invalid opcode: 0000 [#1] SMP NOPTI

RIP: 0010:__slab_free+0x1a4/0x350

Some of the ceph_mdsc_build_path() callers had initializers, but

others had not, even though they were all added by commit 15f519e9f883

("ceph: fix race condition validating r_parent before applying state").

The ones without initializer are suspectible to random crashes. (I can

imagine it could even be possible to exploit this bug to elevate

privileges.)

Unfortunately, these Ceph functions are undocumented and its semantics

can only be derived from the code. I see that ceph_mdsc_build_path()

initializes the structure only on success, but not on error.

Calling ceph_mdsc_free_path_info() after a failed

ceph_mdsc_build_path() call does not even make sense, but that's what

all callers do, and for it to be safe, the structure must be

zero-initialized. The least intrusive approach to fix this is

therefore to add initializers everywhere.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2026-43408 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.

Exploitation requires low privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.

A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 7.8.

CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown

Exploitability
Attack VectorLocal
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges Req.Low
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
Impact
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityHigh
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected Vendors & Products

Mentioned vendors (from description):
Linux
CPE data not yet available in NVD for this CVE.

Exploit & PoC Resources

NO KNOWN EXPLOITNo public exploit confirmed at this time
External links open in a new tab. Always verify in a controlled environment before use.

All References (4)

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2026-43408
CVSS Score7.8 / 10
SeverityHIGH
CISA KEVNo
EPSS (30d)0.01%
PublishedMay 8, 2026

Recommended Actions

  • Apply vendor patches immediately
  • Monitor CVE-2026-43408 in threat intel feeds
  • Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts
Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWATCH.COM. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.