CVE-2026-72169

Partial pageblock release via unaligned scratch size

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Memory-management flaw in Linux 6.16 allows local users with administrative privileges to partially release a scratch pageblock via a boot parameter. The scratch_size_update() path aligns scratch_scale-derived sizes but omits that operation for a fixed command-line scratch size. Reachability requires control of the kernel command line and KHO configuration; the published consequence is limited to releasing a pageblock whose contents are only partly scratch.

CVSS severity5.1
Medium
EPSS probability0.20%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory-management flaw in Linux 6.16 allows local users with administrative privileges to partially release a scratch pageblock via a boot parameter. The scratch_size_update() path aligns scratch_scale-derived sizes but omits that operation for a fixed command-line scratch size. Reachability requires control of the kernel command line and KHO configuration; the published consequence is limited to releasing a pageblock whose contents are only partly scratch.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72169
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
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

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=3dc92c311498c4d307cfdd0c6c3ac9355b50f683 <0e39380a7316122e1b00012b3f3cd3e318b3e7d3
  2. Affected versionversion=3dc92c311498c4d307cfdd0c6c3ac9355b50f683 <9fefab759f59bf891bef7be15aee4bc7caec7ec3
  3. Affected versionversion=3dc92c311498c4d307cfdd0c6c3ac9355b50f683 <b8271be34bce151597da5b5179e0648c281322a4
  4. Affected versionversion=6.16

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3dc92c311498c4d307cfdd0c6c3ac9355b50f683 <0e39380a7316122e1b00012b3f3cd3e318b3e7d3; version=3dc92c311498c4d307cfdd0c6c3ac9355b50f683 <9fefab759f59bf891bef7be15aee4bc7caec7ec3; version=3dc92c311498c4d307cfdd0c6c3ac9355b50f683 <b8271be34bce151597da5b5179e0648c281322a4; version=6.16

Published CVSS scores

5.1Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H
5.1SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/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

No sourced classifications are available.

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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