Linux Kernel ZcopyReaper Vulnerability Lets Local Attackers Gain Root Privileges
Linux kernel RDS zero-copy flaw CVE-2026-43502 (ZcopyReaper) lets unprivileged local users gain root; fix in 7.1-rc3, public PoC published.
CVE-2026-43502, dubbed ZcopyReaper, is a Linux kernel local privilege escalation flaw in the RDS zerocopy send path, present since kernel 4.17, allowing unprivileged local attackers to gain root. NebuSec researcher Yuan Tan demonstrated root escalation on openSUSE kernel 6.4.0-150600.23.100; the fix landed in commit 44b550d88b26 with Linux 7.1-rc3 the first patched mainline release. Exploitation requires CONFIG_RDS and CONFIG_RDS_TCP but not unprivileged user namespaces, and PoC exploit material is publicly released alongside more than 20 other exploitable 2026 kernel CVEs.
New ZcopyReaper Linux Kernel Vulnerability Enables Privilege Escalation Attacks
ZcopyReaper (CVE-2026-43502) lets unprivileged local attackers reach root on Linux via an RDS zero-copy cleanup flaw dating to kernel 4.17.
CVE-2026-43502 is a lifetime-management error in rds_message_purge() that mishandles zero-copy sends before socket attachment, corrupting kernel memory and enabling local privilege escalation without capabilities or user namespaces. NebuSec demonstrated the exploit on openSUSE kernel 6.4.0-150600.23.100; vulnerable systems need CONFIG_INET, CONFIG_AIO, CONFIG_RDS, and CONFIG_RDS_TCP. The fix landed in mainline commit 44b550d88b26 (Linux 7.1-rc3) with backports to Ubuntu 7.0.0, 6.8.0, and 5.15.0 kernels and multiple Debian branches. NebuSec also released public exploits for 20 additional Linux kernel vulnerabilities in its CyberMeowfia repository.
Linux kernel LPEs: ZcopyReaper (CVE-2026-43502) and 20 more
Researchers disclosed CVE-2026-43502 (ZcopyReaper), a Linux kernel local privilege escalation in the RDS zerocopy send path, fixed in v7.1-rc3.
Yuan Tan reported a Linux kernel local privilege escalation in the RDS zerocopy send path, tracked as CVE-2026-43502 and dubbed ZcopyReaper, posted to oss-security. The flaw was introduced in Linux v4.17 and fixed by commit 44b550d88b26, first appearing in mainline v7.1-rc3. The researchers demonstrated local privilege escalation on an openSUSE system running kernel 6.4.0-150600.23.100. The post also references 20 additional Linux kernel LPEs, though CVE ids were not provided in the excerpt.
Mozilla Revokes Firefox and Thunderbird Linux Signing Key After Key Lands in Private Repo
Mozilla revoked the Firefox and Thunderbird Linux RPM signing subkey after an unencrypted copy landed in a private repo; no unauthorized access found.
Mozilla revoked the OpenPGP signing subkey (fingerprint 09BE ED63 F346 2A2D FFAB 3B87 5ECB 6497 C1A2 0256) used for Firefox and Thunderbird Linux downloads after an unencrypted copy was committed to one of its private repositories, citing reason code 2, 'key material has been compromised.' Audit records showed no sign of unauthorized access, and a replacement subkey (827E 6586 0867 9618 CD34 9F93 678E 455D 7676 7AA3) valid until August 5, 2028 was published. Users who verify signatures manually or install from Mozilla RPM packages may need to import the new key and remove the old one. The rotation came roughly seven months ahead of Mozilla's usual two-year subkey cycle.