CVE-2026-72252

Kernel memory corruption via stale nftables clone

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Out-of-bounds write in the Linux kernel allows local users to corrupt kernel memory via crafted nftables set transactions. After an allocation failure leaves nft_pipapo_match lookup tables, bits, or scratch sizing inconsistent, a later insertion reuses the bad clone and writes beyond its allocation. Exploitation requires local access to submit a transaction and induce allocation failure; the result is a system crash or code execution with elevated privileges.

CVSS severity7.0
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

Out-of-bounds write in the Linux kernel allows local users to corrupt kernel memory via crafted nftables set transactions. After an allocation failure leaves nft_pipapo_match lookup tables, bits, or scratch sizing inconsistent, a later insertion reuses the bad clone and writes beyond its allocation. Exploitation requires local access to submit a transaction and induce allocation failure; the result is a system crash or code execution with elevated privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72252
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-787, 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=3c4287f62044a90e73a561aa05fc46e62da173da <02b6b0e892aea582590671796fd6eff5b93ea93f
  2. Affected versionversion=3c4287f62044a90e73a561aa05fc46e62da173da <047e813324eac2ac60cddfb58bcdbd0144eadb09
  3. Affected versionversion=3c4287f62044a90e73a561aa05fc46e62da173da <47e65eff50691f0a5b79d325e28d83ec1da43bcf
  4. Affected versionversion=3c4287f62044a90e73a561aa05fc46e62da173da <610e3b73efaec3dd81a95dcda2421ad7d9795bd0
  5. Affected versionversion=3c4287f62044a90e73a561aa05fc46e62da173da <e74f9680e1b64872a51cc7b5bda1edaaa08aa51f
  6. Affected versionversion=5.6

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3c4287f62044a90e73a561aa05fc46e62da173da <02b6b0e892aea582590671796fd6eff5b93ea93f; version=3c4287f62044a90e73a561aa05fc46e62da173da <047e813324eac2ac60cddfb58bcdbd0144eadb09; version=3c4287f62044a90e73a561aa05fc46e62da173da <47e65eff50691f0a5b79d325e28d83ec1da43bcf; version=3c4287f62044a90e73a561aa05fc46e62da173da <610e3b73efaec3dd81a95dcda2421ad7d9795bd0; version=3c4287f62044a90e73a561aa05fc46e62da173da <e74f9680e1b64872a51cc7b5bda1edaaa08aa51f; version=5.6

Published CVSS scores

7.0Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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