CVE-2026-72270

Kernel memory leak via s3fb probe errors

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Memory leak in the s3fb driver in affected Linux kernel releases allows attackers to retain kernel memory through device-probe error paths. The s3_pci_probe() function allocates a modelist with fb_videomode_to_modelist() but omits fb_destroy_modelist() on later error paths. Reachability requires the s3fb driver and a probe failure after allocation; published sources do not establish attacker control or system-level exhaustion.

CVSS severity1.9
Low
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

Memory leak in the s3fb driver in affected Linux kernel releases allows attackers to retain kernel memory through device-probe error paths. The s3_pci_probe() function allocates a modelist with fb_videomode_to_modelist() but omits fb_destroy_modelist() on later error paths. Reachability requires the s3fb driver and a probe failure after allocation; published sources do not establish attacker control or system-level exhaustion.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72270
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

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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=3.0
  2. Affected versionversion=86c0f043a737dadf034a4e6f29aefb074f4a1146 <0d0fa8425b29657b3d3e5bb36f50a50e57c8101f
  3. Affected versionversion=86c0f043a737dadf034a4e6f29aefb074f4a1146 <25b354f74b028a3f91b12e6b446256965744c477
  4. Affected versionversion=86c0f043a737dadf034a4e6f29aefb074f4a1146 <37f4b8bd9e3835a7d4da26baf80b497e478d3123
  5. Affected versionversion=86c0f043a737dadf034a4e6f29aefb074f4a1146 <3b0ed04bc852887a9164e1bbf521652e8ef3eb92
  6. Affected versionversion=86c0f043a737dadf034a4e6f29aefb074f4a1146 <56964e8039150a14462005458b25f19d6cad8f4a
  7. Affected versionversion=86c0f043a737dadf034a4e6f29aefb074f4a1146 <ad54698255a4b988cae1ad908c158c1d4128887c
  8. Affected versionversion=86c0f043a737dadf034a4e6f29aefb074f4a1146 <ef6c5e4607483259a0daf6584e9e34ef643a655d
  9. Affected versionversion=86c0f043a737dadf034a4e6f29aefb074f4a1146 <fc90ec978a3cef6f6d8c6074bee538998c7c9837

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3.0; version=86c0f043a737dadf034a4e6f29aefb074f4a1146 <0d0fa8425b29657b3d3e5bb36f50a50e57c8101f; version=86c0f043a737dadf034a4e6f29aefb074f4a1146 <25b354f74b028a3f91b12e6b446256965744c477; version=86c0f043a737dadf034a4e6f29aefb074f4a1146 <37f4b8bd9e3835a7d4da26baf80b497e478d3123; version=86c0f043a737dadf034a4e6f29aefb074f4a1146 <3b0ed04bc852887a9164e1bbf521652e8ef3eb92; version=86c0f043a737dadf034a4e6f29aefb074f4a1146 <56964e8039150a14462005458b25f19d6cad8f4a; version=86c0f043a737dadf034a4e6f29aefb074f4a1146 <ad54698255a4b988cae1ad908c158c1d4128887c; version=86c0f043a737dadf034a4e6f29aefb074f4a1146 <ef6c5e4607483259a0daf6584e9e34ef643a655d; version=86c0f043a737dadf034a4e6f29aefb074f4a1146 <fc90ec978a3cef6f6d8c6074bee538998c7c9837

Published CVSS scores

1.9Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L

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)
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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