Skip to content
major vulnerability· requires attention

Kernel LPE affects Linux platforms broadly; potential root on many servers.

Systems

CVE-2026-45253

8.4
High
EPSS 0.20%Patch availableMay 22, 2026

Kernel privilege escalation via ptrace param validation bug allows local code execution.

common questions

Is CVE-2026-45253 being exploited?

Not confirmed. CVE-2026-45253 does not appear in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, which records only exploitation that has been observed and reported publicly. That is evidence of absence of a report, not evidence the flaw is unattacked. EPSS currently estimates a 0.20% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How severe is CVE-2026-45253?

CVE-2026-45253 is rated High with a CVSS score of 8.4. Severity describes how bad exploitation would be, not how likely it is: pair it with exploitation evidence before deciding what to patch first.

Is there a patch for CVE-2026-45253?

Yes. A fix has been recorded for CVE-2026-45253. The vendor advisory is the authority on the exact fixed version — apply it from there rather than from a summary.

What does CVE-2026-45253 affect?

CVE-2026-45253 affects Linux kernel. Confirm the exact affected versions against the vendor advisory before deciding you are exposed.

What should I do about CVE-2026-45253?

Patch when released; apply mitigations and least privilege.

Exploitation status reflects CISA's KEV catalog as we last synced it. Check the catalog directly.

executive summary
technical analysis
affected
Linux kernel
impact

Unprivileged local user can trigger arbitrary kernel code execution and escalate to root.

action required

Patch when available

affected versions
FreeBSD FreeBSD
  • affected>= 15.0-RELEASE and < p9
  • affected>= 14.4-RELEASE and < p5
  • affected>= 14.3-RELEASE and < p14

As published in the CVE Program record. A version outside these ranges is not a statement that it is unaffected — vendors sometimes understate a range, and distribution-backported builds carry upstream numbers that do not reflect what was patched into them.

how to fix
Remediation steps are tailored for users whose stack is affected. Add this technology to your stack to see the fix checklist.
references
get alerted

Track only the vulnerabilities that affect your infrastructure.

start for free