CVE-2026-46172 | ipv6: xfrm6: release dst on error in xfrm6_rcv_encap()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ipv6: xfrm6: release dst on error in xfrm6_rcv_encap() xfrm6_rcv_encap() performs an IPv6 route lookup when the skb does not already have a dst attached. ip6_route_input_lookup() returns a referenced dst entry even when the lookup resolves to an error route. If dst->error is set, xfrm6_rcv_encap() drops the skb without attaching the dst to the skb and without releasing the reference returned by the lookup. Repeated packets hitting this path therefore leak dst entries. Release the dst before jumping to the drop path.

Published: 2026-05-28 Last update: 2026-06-01 Assigner: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67

Conclusion & alert: CVE-2026-46172 is rated Low Risk (5.2/100): low exploitation likelihood (EPSS 0.02%). Mandatory action: Low composite risk—no urgent action required; patch on your normal maintenance cycle and revisit priority if CVSS or EPSS increases.

Risk is dynamic; we continuously reassess and refresh what is shown on this page as upstream context changes.

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2026-46172

EPSS lead: Daily EPSS estimates relative likelihood of exploitation; percentile ranks this CVE among scored vulnerabilities (higher = more severe relative rank).

# Date Old EPSS score New EPSS score Delta (New - Old)
1 2026-05-28 0.02%

Full EPSS history (1 record total)

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2026-46172

CVSS metrics for this CVE.

No CVSS data in dataset for this CVE.

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2026-46172

GitHub Security Advisory for CVE-2026-46172

GHSA-xg6x-xg63-gmxc · Severity: unknown — In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ipv6: xfrm6: release dst on...

OS Trackers for CVE-2026-46172

vendor priority summary link
debian not yet assigned CVE-2026-46172 not yet assigned priority: Debian including 1 source packages (linux), 5 status rows across 5 suites (bookworm, bullseye, forky, sid, trixie): resolved 3, open 2. https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2026-46172
redhat medium https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-46172
suse https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-46172/

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2026-46172

Vendor Product Version Raw CPE
No affected products in dataset.

References for CVE-2026-46172

cvelogic Threat Intelligence