CVE-2026-72214

Kernel resource retention via unreleased nvmem reference

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

A reference leak in the Linux kernel CPCAP battery driver allows local users to retain nvmem device references through battery reads. cpcap_battery_detect_battery_type() obtains an nvmem device with nvmem_device_find() but omits nvmem_device_put() on successful and failed reads. The condition requires the CPCAP battery driver and compatible battery hardware; retrying property reads compounds the permanent leak, with no reported data access or code execution.

CVSS severity4.7
Medium
EPSS probability0.21%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A reference leak in the Linux kernel CPCAP battery driver allows local users to retain nvmem device references through battery reads. cpcap_battery_detect_battery_type() obtains an nvmem device with nvmem_device_find() but omits nvmem_device_put() on successful and failed reads. The condition requires the CPCAP battery driver and compatible battery hardware; retrying property reads compounds the permanent leak, with no reported data access or code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72214
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
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=5.18
  2. Affected versionversion=fd46821e85de90fb5b7356251164af4815b6e3f6 <700c225d829a1256b59053c34a1a9d1a6ab70b09
  3. Affected versionversion=fd46821e85de90fb5b7356251164af4815b6e3f6 <a2c14ff63e0e02e3c832385e523e9cc81301171c
  4. Affected versionversion=fd46821e85de90fb5b7356251164af4815b6e3f6 <a3d81de441233a92ec21469cd0c4eb3c26b95cd8
  5. Affected versionversion=fd46821e85de90fb5b7356251164af4815b6e3f6 <b56a5cbf8f1f1a5740f1137c89b14d0373309d8d
  6. Affected versionversion=fd46821e85de90fb5b7356251164af4815b6e3f6 <deaf6b3f8187231ad8f7770b10ed0be2cd47e9b2
  7. Affected versionversion=fd46821e85de90fb5b7356251164af4815b6e3f6 <fc65520fe0781a1ff46631f111e07b4a1c677b96

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.18; version=fd46821e85de90fb5b7356251164af4815b6e3f6 <700c225d829a1256b59053c34a1a9d1a6ab70b09; version=fd46821e85de90fb5b7356251164af4815b6e3f6 <a2c14ff63e0e02e3c832385e523e9cc81301171c; version=fd46821e85de90fb5b7356251164af4815b6e3f6 <a3d81de441233a92ec21469cd0c4eb3c26b95cd8; version=fd46821e85de90fb5b7356251164af4815b6e3f6 <b56a5cbf8f1f1a5740f1137c89b14d0373309d8d; version=fd46821e85de90fb5b7356251164af4815b6e3f6 <deaf6b3f8187231ad8f7770b10ed0be2cd47e9b2; version=fd46821e85de90fb5b7356251164af4815b6e3f6 <fc65520fe0781a1ff46631f111e07b4a1c677b96

Published CVSS scores

4.7SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
3.3Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

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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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
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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