CVE-2026-72222Network attack vector

Remote kernel memory corruption via TLS close race

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Use-after-free in Linux kernel sunrpc allows remote attackers to corrupt kernel memory by closing an NFS TLS connection during handshake. svc_tcp_handshake passes a raw svc_xprt pointer to an asynchronous callback without retaining its embedding svc_sock, while losing cancellation paths permit that object to be freed before svc_tcp_handshake_done writes through it. Exploitation requires a TLS-enabled NFS server and a connection close overlapping the tlshd downcall window, producing slab corruption that can crash or unpredictably destabilize the server.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.62%
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 Linux kernel sunrpc allows remote attackers to corrupt kernel memory by closing an NFS TLS connection during handshake. svc_tcp_handshake passes a raw svc_xprt pointer to an asynchronous callback without retaining its embedding svc_sock, while losing cancellation paths permit that object to be freed before svc_tcp_handshake_done writes through it. Exploitation requires a TLS-enabled NFS server and a connection close overlapping the tlshd downcall window, producing slab corruption that can crash or unpredictably destabilize the server.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72222
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-825, T1499
Attack vector
network
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=6.4
  2. Affected versionversion=b3cbf98e2fdf3cb147a95161560cd25987284330 <083e9c2ec7e8bb13b79c9fd7b337abdd758ecc5f
  3. Affected versionversion=b3cbf98e2fdf3cb147a95161560cd25987284330 <2d4f97d13fff91e0bc539216be88b884b544d49f
  4. Affected versionversion=b3cbf98e2fdf3cb147a95161560cd25987284330 <3f9ee75a97a769be258784c22b89657acb5ed9bd
  5. Affected versionversion=b3cbf98e2fdf3cb147a95161560cd25987284330 <4f988f3a2808fb659f3880c282041ff067acad78
  6. Affected versionversion=b3cbf98e2fdf3cb147a95161560cd25987284330 <f3b55945dd99f29d83e1965d0141040a35262346

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.4; version=b3cbf98e2fdf3cb147a95161560cd25987284330 <083e9c2ec7e8bb13b79c9fd7b337abdd758ecc5f; version=b3cbf98e2fdf3cb147a95161560cd25987284330 <2d4f97d13fff91e0bc539216be88b884b544d49f; version=b3cbf98e2fdf3cb147a95161560cd25987284330 <3f9ee75a97a769be258784c22b89657acb5ed9bd; version=b3cbf98e2fdf3cb147a95161560cd25987284330 <4f988f3a2808fb659f3880c282041ff067acad78; version=b3cbf98e2fdf3cb147a95161560cd25987284330 <f3b55945dd99f29d83e1965d0141040a35262346

Published CVSS scores

7.0Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8CVE.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-825Expired Pointer Dereference
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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