CVE-2026-72108

Metadata corruption via premature held_root updates

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Metadata corruption in the Linux kernel allows local users to damage thin-pool metadata through snapshot operations after a commit failure. __reserve_metadata_snap() and __release_metadata_snap() update held_root in the block-manager buffer before commit success, so abort_transaction flushes an invalid root. Reaching the flaw requires CAP_SYS_ADMIN in the initial user namespace and a failing metadata commit; the resulting reference-count errors can force repair and cause data loss.

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

Metadata corruption in the Linux kernel allows local users to damage thin-pool metadata through snapshot operations after a commit failure. __reserve_metadata_snap() and __release_metadata_snap() update held_root in the block-manager buffer before commit success, so abort_transaction flushes an invalid root. Reaching the flaw requires CAP_SYS_ADMIN in the initial user namespace and a failing metadata commit; the resulting reference-count errors can force repair and cause data loss.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72108
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-367, T1565
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

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=3.2
  2. Affected versionversion=991d9fa02da0dd1f843dc011376965e0c8c6c9b5 <3dc9ae1029320d77472c44965e572f176949cd63
  3. Affected versionversion=991d9fa02da0dd1f843dc011376965e0c8c6c9b5 <4af993468193cf4cd32ba5748786e7801945f7d2
  4. Affected versionversion=991d9fa02da0dd1f843dc011376965e0c8c6c9b5 <5bcd4d3058ebaf46ad2e163829d87dd4870c7a45
  5. Affected versionversion=991d9fa02da0dd1f843dc011376965e0c8c6c9b5 <5efb1a7734ed4035fa4fdc3716bdb84621f27cf6
  6. Affected versionversion=991d9fa02da0dd1f843dc011376965e0c8c6c9b5 <7f76245960a332f39b08cc556e675d1765dc5bbb
  7. Affected versionversion=991d9fa02da0dd1f843dc011376965e0c8c6c9b5 <9f1a0d27586ceab055e6b050e3731ce3c6b2c4f0
  8. Affected versionversion=991d9fa02da0dd1f843dc011376965e0c8c6c9b5 <abf2fae92cbe68945028987d498cc72f8f0e23a8
  9. Affected versionversion=991d9fa02da0dd1f843dc011376965e0c8c6c9b5 <b5f9a31c51cbb374a1713c3494f8660ab070f035

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3.2; version=991d9fa02da0dd1f843dc011376965e0c8c6c9b5 <3dc9ae1029320d77472c44965e572f176949cd63; version=991d9fa02da0dd1f843dc011376965e0c8c6c9b5 <4af993468193cf4cd32ba5748786e7801945f7d2; version=991d9fa02da0dd1f843dc011376965e0c8c6c9b5 <5bcd4d3058ebaf46ad2e163829d87dd4870c7a45; version=991d9fa02da0dd1f843dc011376965e0c8c6c9b5 <5efb1a7734ed4035fa4fdc3716bdb84621f27cf6; version=991d9fa02da0dd1f843dc011376965e0c8c6c9b5 <7f76245960a332f39b08cc556e675d1765dc5bbb; version=991d9fa02da0dd1f843dc011376965e0c8c6c9b5 <9f1a0d27586ceab055e6b050e3731ce3c6b2c4f0; version=991d9fa02da0dd1f843dc011376965e0c8c6c9b5 <abf2fae92cbe68945028987d498cc72f8f0e23a8; version=991d9fa02da0dd1f843dc011376965e0c8c6c9b5 <b5f9a31c51cbb374a1713c3494f8660ab070f035

Published CVSS scores

7.8CanonicalCVSS: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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-367Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition
T1565Data Manipulation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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