Global Linux kernel exposure; BATMAN-adv is widely deployed and a disruption could affect many networks.
CVE-2026-46238
Linux kernel BATMAN-adv: fix stale originator pointer in BAT IV.
Is CVE-2026-46238 being exploited?
Not confirmed. CVE-2026-46238 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 0.26% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
How severe is CVE-2026-46238?
CVE-2026-46238 is rated High with a CVSS score of 8.8. 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-2026-46238?
Yes. A fix has been recorded for CVE-2026-46238. The vendor advisory is the authority on the exact fixed version — apply it from there rather than from a summary.
What does CVE-2026-46238 affect?
CVE-2026-46238 affects Linux kernel (batman-adv). Confirm the exact affected versions against the vendor advisory before deciding you are exposed.
What should I do about CVE-2026-46238?
Upgrade to the kernel with BATMAN-adv fix.
Exploitation status reflects CISA's KEV catalog as we last synced it. Check the catalog directly.
Kernel crash/DoS via use-after-free risk from stale originator pointer in BATMAN-adv BAT IV.
Patch when possible
- affected>= c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 and < 86b2b58d7c228d850c8c78e4144e6123e8ed2718
- affected>= c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 and < 384e3050a42be9085d50507b4d5f8266a588d742
- affected>= c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 and < 8c16c68fdbb69778f8d04f650340c3f4d1518f8e
- affected>= c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 and < aafcbaf1159ea224528ca4075d0ba8c10ef374af
- affected>= c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 and < 6e20700f8c524ac379ba8274ff5d453023b7c006
- affected>= c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 and < 09dc0d1a12222ffca6481916eab3cfea477b9620
- affected>= c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 and < 67bceeb22207f1f5a402973a3a0809e5f2698f38
- affected>= c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 and < f03e8583532941b07761c5429de7d50766fa3110
- affected2.6.38
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.