CVE-2026-72027

Local data corruption via unchecked compaction failure

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Unchecked return-value handling in Linux kernel memory compaction allows local users to corrupt data through memory-allocation activity. compaction_free() adds pages back to cc->freepages even when free_pages_prepare() rejects them as hardware-poisoned or otherwise bad. Ordinary local processes can drive compaction through allocations and memory pressure, allowing rejected pages to reenter the allocator and corrupt process data or kernel state.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.18%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Unchecked return-value handling in Linux kernel memory compaction allows local users to corrupt data through memory-allocation activity. compaction_free() adds pages back to cc->freepages even when free_pages_prepare() rejects them as hardware-poisoned or otherwise bad. Ordinary local processes can drive compaction through allocations and memory pressure, allowing rejected pages to reenter the allocator and corrupt process data or kernel state.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72027
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-252, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 15, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 15, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=6.9
  2. Affected versionversion=733aea0b3a7bba0451dfc19322665de13a5b7af4 <018d7ad26cb8bdfe9842f2ca68a42b0bfdcc82fe
  3. Affected versionversion=733aea0b3a7bba0451dfc19322665de13a5b7af4 <23afc3786acf359c135093893fb43a436768c832
  4. Affected versionversion=733aea0b3a7bba0451dfc19322665de13a5b7af4 <7da7d599b8a83271c464adfd5ef160202b470570
  5. Affected versionversion=733aea0b3a7bba0451dfc19322665de13a5b7af4 <de8577db09039d4950239b01446ab5ead9028ab4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.9; version=733aea0b3a7bba0451dfc19322665de13a5b7af4 <018d7ad26cb8bdfe9842f2ca68a42b0bfdcc82fe; version=733aea0b3a7bba0451dfc19322665de13a5b7af4 <23afc3786acf359c135093893fb43a436768c832; version=733aea0b3a7bba0451dfc19322665de13a5b7af4 <7da7d599b8a83271c464adfd5ef160202b470570; version=733aea0b3a7bba0451dfc19322665de13a5b7af4 <de8577db09039d4950239b01446ab5ead9028ab4

Published CVSS scores

7.0Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.8Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H
7.8LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.0Oracle LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-252Unchecked Return Value
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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