CVE-2026-72172

Kernel crash via uninitialized DAX page metadata

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Use of uninitialized memory in the Linux kernel allows local users with DAX access to crash the host through mapped device memory. In mm/mm_init.c, compound_nr_pages() assumes vmemmap optimization for an early section, so memmap initialization covers only the reduced page count and leaves tail struct pages uninitialized. Exploitation requires device-DAX with compound vmemmap hotplugged into an unoccupied subsection of an early section; later mmap or page-fault activity can corrupt kernel state or panic the host.

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 of uninitialized memory in the Linux kernel allows local users with DAX access to crash the host through mapped device memory. In mm/mm_init.c, compound_nr_pages() assumes vmemmap optimization for an early section, so memmap initialization covers only the reduced page count and leaves tail struct pages uninitialized. Exploitation requires device-DAX with compound vmemmap hotplugged into an unoccupied subsection of an early section; later mmap or page-fault activity can corrupt kernel state or panic the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72172
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-908, 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=5.19
  2. Affected versionversion=6fd3620b342861de9547ea01d28f664892ef51a1 <11f2826e9ee6f24aaa774e3dcd75abbe4b3091b6
  3. Affected versionversion=6fd3620b342861de9547ea01d28f664892ef51a1 <511a60e71aec308b24722cffc1912bf6befb87bf
  4. Affected versionversion=6fd3620b342861de9547ea01d28f664892ef51a1 <b91e27bce37cab9f35de0059278ebe457ca9878b
  5. Affected versionversion=6fd3620b342861de9547ea01d28f664892ef51a1 <cd681403a87085562499d60325b7b45d3be11217
  6. Affected versionversion=6fd3620b342861de9547ea01d28f664892ef51a1 <da5234df0941665f3a3f5b80f3dab94046537be0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.19; version=6fd3620b342861de9547ea01d28f664892ef51a1 <11f2826e9ee6f24aaa774e3dcd75abbe4b3091b6; version=6fd3620b342861de9547ea01d28f664892ef51a1 <511a60e71aec308b24722cffc1912bf6befb87bf; version=6fd3620b342861de9547ea01d28f664892ef51a1 <b91e27bce37cab9f35de0059278ebe457ca9878b; version=6fd3620b342861de9547ea01d28f664892ef51a1 <cd681403a87085562499d60325b7b45d3be11217; version=6fd3620b342861de9547ea01d28f664892ef51a1 <da5234df0941665f3a3f5b80f3dab94046537be0

Published CVSS scores

7.8Linux Kernel CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/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

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-908Use of Uninitialized Resource
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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