CVE-2026-72042

Local code execution via IPMI refcount underflow

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel IPMI event path allows local users with IPMI device access to execute code or crash the host. On failed event delivery, handle_read_event_rsp() frees each receive message and then performs a stale extra user-reference decrement, freeing an ipmi_user that remains on intf->users. Exploitation requires access to /dev/ipmiN, multiple file descriptors, event registration, message-limit exhaustion, and BMC event generation; successful reuse enables kernel code execution, memory access, or a panic.

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

What happened

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel IPMI event path allows local users with IPMI device access to execute code or crash the host. On failed event delivery, handle_read_event_rsp() frees each receive message and then performs a stale extra user-reference decrement, freeing an ipmi_user that remains on intf->users. Exploitation requires access to /dev/ipmiN, multiple file descriptors, event registration, message-limit exhaustion, and BMC event generation; successful reuse enables kernel code execution, memory access, or a panic.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72042
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-825, 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

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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=0ed73be9a2547ffb9b5c1d879ad9bfab73d920b5
  2. Affected versionversion=348121b29594d42d1635648fd3ed31dfa25351d5
  3. Affected versionversion=53d6e403affbf6df2c859a0ea00ccfc1e72090ca
  4. Affected versionversion=6.1.157 <6.2
  5. Affected versionversion=6.12.54 <6.13
  6. Affected versionversion=6.17.4 <6.18
  7. Affected versionversion=6.18
  8. Affected versionversion=6.6.113 <6.7
  9. Affected versionversion=b52da4054ee0bf9ecb44996f2c83236ff50b3812 <6aa9e61c46465d231e9beddf56af7effd71be682
  10. Affected versionversion=b52da4054ee0bf9ecb44996f2c83236ff50b3812 <7be349d4fcc5e065295b83418a22d27a68afbdb6
  11. Affected versionversion=b52da4054ee0bf9ecb44996f2c83236ff50b3812 <ddbb6e3dc9bb4743de686aa1598c31e745cee76b
  12. Affected versionversion=f63723ca7d7623f9dae1990973cd158671f03c56

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=0ed73be9a2547ffb9b5c1d879ad9bfab73d920b5; version=348121b29594d42d1635648fd3ed31dfa25351d5; version=53d6e403affbf6df2c859a0ea00ccfc1e72090ca; version=6.1.157 <6.2; version=6.12.54 <6.13; version=6.17.4 <6.18; version=6.18; version=6.6.113 <6.7; version=b52da4054ee0bf9ecb44996f2c83236ff50b3812 <6aa9e61c46465d231e9beddf56af7effd71be682; version=b52da4054ee0bf9ecb44996f2c83236ff50b3812 <7be349d4fcc5e065295b83418a22d27a68afbdb6; version=b52da4054ee0bf9ecb44996f2c83236ff50b3812 <ddbb6e3dc9bb4743de686aa1598c31e745cee76b; version=f63723ca7d7623f9dae1990973cd158671f03c56

Published CVSS scores

7.8Linux Kernel CVE TeamCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.0Red HatCVSS: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

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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-825Expired Pointer Dereference
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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