CVE-2026-72036

Kernel panic via mismatched peek and dequeue

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

NULL pointer dereference in Linux kernel sch_multiq allows local users to crash the host by sending traffic through a crafted qdisc hierarchy. The multiq_dequeue function directly dequeues after multiq_peek has stashed a packet in a non-work-conserving child, orphaning that stash and desynchronizing queue length and backlog until QFQ re-enters an empty list. Reachability requires CAP_NET_ADMIN in the applicable network namespace; unprivileged local users can obtain it when user and network namespaces are enabled.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.17%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

NULL pointer dereference in Linux kernel sch_multiq allows local users to crash the host by sending traffic through a crafted qdisc hierarchy. The multiq_dequeue function directly dequeues after multiq_peek has stashed a packet in a non-work-conserving child, orphaning that stash and desynchronizing queue length and backlog until QFQ re-enters an empty list. Reachability requires CAP_NET_ADMIN in the applicable network namespace; unprivileged local users can obtain it when user and network namespaces are enabled.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72036
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-476, T1499
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

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Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=2.6.29
  2. Affected versionversion=77be155cba4e163e8bba9fd27222a8b6189ec4f7 <1b9cc255e8089606b92b2adf504e334573682821
  3. Affected versionversion=77be155cba4e163e8bba9fd27222a8b6189ec4f7 <3e5fd9d14f2d228e7260251f2e4a1d41ba8f705a
  4. Affected versionversion=77be155cba4e163e8bba9fd27222a8b6189ec4f7 <54f6b0c843e228d499eb4b6bbb89df68cad9ad5d
  5. Affected versionversion=77be155cba4e163e8bba9fd27222a8b6189ec4f7 <5889064919a1e5c0a9469c54895000414fc46944
  6. Affected versionversion=77be155cba4e163e8bba9fd27222a8b6189ec4f7 <7a5a1582710981ef6637de9f074a60a5b1d63222
  7. Affected versionversion=77be155cba4e163e8bba9fd27222a8b6189ec4f7 <86a61e46a1919e8abf4d227c204773dabb24068a
  8. Affected versionversion=77be155cba4e163e8bba9fd27222a8b6189ec4f7 <eb1a9637f0bd84b5db8803af65dfb1f44785406f
  9. Affected versionversion=77be155cba4e163e8bba9fd27222a8b6189ec4f7 <fffeb2ab5eeb823d4c2330571a098f63237c9049

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=2.6.29; version=77be155cba4e163e8bba9fd27222a8b6189ec4f7 <1b9cc255e8089606b92b2adf504e334573682821; version=77be155cba4e163e8bba9fd27222a8b6189ec4f7 <3e5fd9d14f2d228e7260251f2e4a1d41ba8f705a; version=77be155cba4e163e8bba9fd27222a8b6189ec4f7 <54f6b0c843e228d499eb4b6bbb89df68cad9ad5d; version=77be155cba4e163e8bba9fd27222a8b6189ec4f7 <5889064919a1e5c0a9469c54895000414fc46944; version=77be155cba4e163e8bba9fd27222a8b6189ec4f7 <7a5a1582710981ef6637de9f074a60a5b1d63222; version=77be155cba4e163e8bba9fd27222a8b6189ec4f7 <86a61e46a1919e8abf4d227c204773dabb24068a; version=77be155cba4e163e8bba9fd27222a8b6189ec4f7 <eb1a9637f0bd84b5db8803af65dfb1f44785406f; version=77be155cba4e163e8bba9fd27222a8b6189ec4f7 <fffeb2ab5eeb823d4c2330571a098f63237c9049

Published CVSS scores

7.8Linux kernel CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.5Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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.

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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-476NULL Pointer Dereference
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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