---
id: CVE-2026-80961
title: >-
  kernel: dm-pcache: validate kset key_num and intra-segment bounds
  (CVE-2026-80961)
summary: >-
  A flaw was found in the `dm-pcache` component of the Linux kernel. A local
  attacker with `CAP_SYS_ADMIN` capabilities could exploit unbounded fields
  decoded from the cache device. This could lead to an out-of-bounds read,
  potentially discl…
severity: medium
cvss: 5.5
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'
cvssSource: vendor
cwe: CWE-125
vendor: Red Hat
product: Linux
affected:
  - >-
    Linux >= 1d57628ff95b32d5cfa8d8f50e07690c161e9cf0 <
    d8caf96040a06096276ab72f5e1e8547c014c564
  - >-
    Linux >= 1d57628ff95b32d5cfa8d8f50e07690c161e9cf0 <
    5ac38f4b4862fad6e7270fde5c3356a822ce74ca
  - >-
    Linux >= 1d57628ff95b32d5cfa8d8f50e07690c161e9cf0 <
    f11deb032fd84081e7831cffcba895d893054a22
  - Linux 6.18
published: '2026-09-11'
updated: '2026-09-14'
sourceUpdated: '2026-09-14T08:59:42+00:00'
source: CSAF
sourceUrl: 'https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-80961.json'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-80961.json
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-80961'
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2532021'
  - url: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-80961'
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-80961'
  - url: >-
      https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/security/vulns.git/plain/cve/published/2026/CVE-2026-80961.mbox
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d8caf96040a06096276ab72f5e1e8547c014c564'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5ac38f4b4862fad6e7270fde5c3356a822ce74ca'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f11deb032fd84081e7831cffcba895d893054a22'
tags:
  - csaf
  - vex
  - red-hat
  - cve.org
  - score-dispute
epss: 0.00173
epssPercentile: 0.06015
scores:
  vendor: 5.5
  cna: 7.8
ingestedAt: '2026-09-14T15:23:07.476Z'
---

## Overview

A flaw was found in the `dm-pcache` component of the Linux kernel. A local attacker with `CAP_SYS_ADMIN` capabilities could exploit unbounded fields decoded from the cache device. This could lead to an out-of-bounds read, potentially disclosing sensitive information from adjacent persistent memory to user space.

## Vendor advisories

- **Red Hat VEX** · Moderate · updated 2026-09-14 · [vex](https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-80961.json)

**kernel: dm-pcache: validate kset key_num and intra-segment bounds** — rated Moderate by Red Hat. Released 2026-09-11, updated 2026-09-14.

Not affected:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

## Remediation

Refer to the advisory for fix availability.