CVE-2026-72067

False CPU-hotplug success via overwritten callback error

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Incorrect status reporting in the Linux kernel CPU-hotplug path allows local users to make failed transitions appear successful. In cpuhp_invoke_callback(), the rollback path overwrites the original callback failure in ret with a successful rollback result. Local low-privileged access and a per-instance callback failure are required; the established consequence is a failed CPU transition reported as successful.

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

Incorrect status reporting in the Linux kernel CPU-hotplug path allows local users to make failed transitions appear successful. In cpuhp_invoke_callback(), the rollback path overwrites the original callback failure in ret with a successful rollback result. Local low-privileged access and a per-instance callback failure are required; the established consequence is a failed CPU transition reported as successful.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72067
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-393
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=4.14
  2. Affected versionversion=724a86881d03ee5794148e65142e24ed3621be66 <673db10729fb121ea1b16fe57791a0cb9eac1eb5
  3. Affected versionversion=724a86881d03ee5794148e65142e24ed3621be66 <77d4fa8a3ea1c3e8b996ac35e59aee9e77389905
  4. Affected versionversion=724a86881d03ee5794148e65142e24ed3621be66 <7a68257b90d8a9b6d605abc99469ded45ecba63b
  5. Affected versionversion=724a86881d03ee5794148e65142e24ed3621be66 <95232281512b15338549171ed9a2acf21f946ffb
  6. Affected versionversion=724a86881d03ee5794148e65142e24ed3621be66 <9f7dc355f62c011e4afe8286cf71130d4bfb9d80
  7. Affected versionversion=724a86881d03ee5794148e65142e24ed3621be66 <ef39758637cc5b603fb05b625c45a98aa306e338
  8. Affected versionversion=724a86881d03ee5794148e65142e24ed3621be66 <f77117530fc3f5932ffb107182a6dd34006be9b6
  9. Affected versionversion=724a86881d03ee5794148e65142e24ed3621be66 <fe9c8d641f6991614d1229a3ffd3e33b879bba9c

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.14; version=724a86881d03ee5794148e65142e24ed3621be66 <673db10729fb121ea1b16fe57791a0cb9eac1eb5; version=724a86881d03ee5794148e65142e24ed3621be66 <77d4fa8a3ea1c3e8b996ac35e59aee9e77389905; version=724a86881d03ee5794148e65142e24ed3621be66 <7a68257b90d8a9b6d605abc99469ded45ecba63b; version=724a86881d03ee5794148e65142e24ed3621be66 <95232281512b15338549171ed9a2acf21f946ffb; version=724a86881d03ee5794148e65142e24ed3621be66 <9f7dc355f62c011e4afe8286cf71130d4bfb9d80; version=724a86881d03ee5794148e65142e24ed3621be66 <ef39758637cc5b603fb05b625c45a98aa306e338; version=724a86881d03ee5794148e65142e24ed3621be66 <f77117530fc3f5932ffb107182a6dd34006be9b6; version=724a86881d03ee5794148e65142e24ed3621be66 <fe9c8d641f6991614d1229a3ffd3e33b879bba9c

Published CVSS scores

7.8cve.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-393Return of Wrong Status Code

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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