Linux Kernel Integer Overflow Vulnerability

An integer overflow flaw was found in the Linux kernel's create_elf_tables() function. An unprivileged local user with access to SUID (or otherwise privileged) binary could use this flaw to escalate their privileges on the system. Kernel…

CheckOps priority index

5.4/10 Patch within 7 days

Severity7.8

Probability1.5

Exploitation3/5

Severity = CVSS. Probability = EPSS (FIRST). Exploitation = public signals: KEV, EUVD, ransomware, EPSS above 10 %, no account required.

EPSS · today 14.7% higher than 96.7% of CVEs

CVSS 3.0 7.8 AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:

Exploited for 281 days 26 Jan 2026

CISA due date 16 Feb 2026 for US federal agencies

Exploitation probability EPSS · FIRST

EPSS probability (%)Percentile among all CVEs

Exploitation signals 3 / 5

KEV catalog (CISA)26 Jan 2026
Exploited in EUVD (ENISA)26 Jan 2026
Used by ransomwareno
EPSS above 10 %14.7%
No account, over the networkno

What to do

Fix

Update to a fixed version: 4.12.6-1

CISA guidance: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

Meanwhile

Take the service off the internet or restrict access to it, watch the logs and look for signs of compromise.

Manufacturers (CRA)

Exploited vulnerability in your product: early warning to ENISA within 24 h, then notification within 72 h (Article 14 of the Cyber Resilience Act). The CRA explained

Description ENISA EUVD

Affected products

Kernel

Affected versions

2.6.x, 3.10.x, 4.14.x

Weaknesses (CWE)

CWE-190

Open source packages OSV

linuxDebian:12 · CVE-2018-14634
fixed in 4.12.6-1
linuxDebian:13 · CVE-2018-14634
fixed in 4.12.6-1

Timeline

25 Sept 2018
Published
26 Jan 2026
Exploitation reported (ENISA)
26 Jan 2026
Added to the KEV catalog
16 Feb 2026
CISA remediation due date
26 Sept 2026
EPSS peak: 14.7%

Other exploited vulnerabilities from the same vendor

CVE-2026-46300Linux Kernel Missing Initialization of a Variable Vulnerability
5.4 · Rising fast
CVE-2026-53266Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write Vulnerability
4.7 · Actively exploited
CVE-2025-39964Linux Kernel Race Condition Vulnerability
4.4 · Actively exploited
CVE-2025-39682Linux Kernel Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions Vulnerability
5.8 · Actively exploited
CVE-2026-53362Linux Kernel Unspecified Vulnerability
4.3 · Actively exploited
CVE-2022-0995Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write Vulnerability
4.6 · Actively exploited