CVE-2026-52981
Published: June 24, 2026· Updated: Jun 28, 2026
Official Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
neigh: let neigh_xmit take skb ownership
neigh_xmit always releases the skb, except when no neighbour table is
found. But even the first added user of neigh_xmit (mpls) relied on
neigh_xmit to release the skb (or queue it for tx).
sashiko reported:
If neigh_xmit() is called with an uninitialized neighbor table (for
example, NEIGH_ND_TABLE when IPv6 is disabled), it returns -EAFNOSUPPORT
and bypasses its internal out_kfree_skb error path. Because the return
value of neigh_xmit() is ignored here, does this leak the SKB?
Assume full ownership and remove the last code path that doesn't
xmit or free skb.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-52981 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.
The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.
A successful exploit results in availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 7.5.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Affected Vendors & Products
Exploit & PoC Resources
All References (6)
Quick Facts
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2026-52981 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts