CVE-2026-72079

Kernel memory corruption via spoofed USB interface

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel ims-pcu driver allows physically proximate attackers to trigger unsafe memory reuse with a malicious USB device. ims_pcu_disconnect() identifies the control interface by class alone, so a same-class data interface causes cleanup before the actual control interface is unbound. Exploitation requires a crafted USB interface and can cause use-after-free or double-free; code execution has not been established.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.22%
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 ims-pcu driver allows physically proximate attackers to trigger unsafe memory reuse with a malicious USB device. ims_pcu_disconnect() identifies the control interface by class alone, so a same-class data interface causes cleanup before the actual control interface is unbound. Exploitation requires a crafted USB interface and can cause use-after-free or double-free; code execution has not been established.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72079
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-416, CWE-826, T1200
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

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=3.10
  2. Affected versionversion=628329d52474323938a03826941e166bc7c8eff4 <293388e42e5c0865204de6f36bfb8662156fce3b
  3. Affected versionversion=628329d52474323938a03826941e166bc7c8eff4 <315f269ea04bc1477ab9bf351e939623d12a1621
  4. Affected versionversion=628329d52474323938a03826941e166bc7c8eff4 <462a999917755a3bf77448dfd64307963cf0a9f0
  5. Affected versionversion=628329d52474323938a03826941e166bc7c8eff4 <6a6c373e6a82eddc522342c8a8db7072c65f2b56
  6. Affected versionversion=628329d52474323938a03826941e166bc7c8eff4 <6aacc18004b1a915ccb8a829d30279a37988066e
  7. Affected versionversion=628329d52474323938a03826941e166bc7c8eff4 <921abbb33887052e46b1b77299f87a3c741dc580
  8. Affected versionversion=628329d52474323938a03826941e166bc7c8eff4 <a4b3f4d42fbf58f06f0d49e37a9d0d9392eca338
  9. Affected versionversion=628329d52474323938a03826941e166bc7c8eff4 <bf0b58ba489d0bdaa18c7dd8beeaeb954dd7dbb7

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3.10; version=628329d52474323938a03826941e166bc7c8eff4 <293388e42e5c0865204de6f36bfb8662156fce3b; version=628329d52474323938a03826941e166bc7c8eff4 <315f269ea04bc1477ab9bf351e939623d12a1621; version=628329d52474323938a03826941e166bc7c8eff4 <462a999917755a3bf77448dfd64307963cf0a9f0; version=628329d52474323938a03826941e166bc7c8eff4 <6a6c373e6a82eddc522342c8a8db7072c65f2b56; version=628329d52474323938a03826941e166bc7c8eff4 <6aacc18004b1a915ccb8a829d30279a37988066e; version=628329d52474323938a03826941e166bc7c8eff4 <921abbb33887052e46b1b77299f87a3c741dc580; version=628329d52474323938a03826941e166bc7c8eff4 <a4b3f4d42fbf58f06f0d49e37a9d0d9392eca338; version=628329d52474323938a03826941e166bc7c8eff4 <bf0b58ba489d0bdaa18c7dd8beeaeb954dd7dbb7

Published CVSS scores

4.6Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/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)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
CWE-826Premature Release of Resource During Expected Lifetime
T1200Hardware Additions

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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