CVE-2026-72282

Kernel memory corruption via device lifetime race

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Use-after-free in affected Linux KVM builds allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through a device-lifetime race. kvm_io_bus_get_dev() matches a device only by address and drops the SRCU read lock before the arm64 VGIC ITS caller verifies its type, allowing the object to be freed during inspection. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access to an affected KVM host; the stale reference exposes or alters kernel memory or crashes the host.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.18%
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 affected Linux KVM builds allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through a device-lifetime race. kvm_io_bus_get_dev() matches a device only by address and drops the SRCU read lock before the arm64 VGIC ITS caller verifies its type, allowing the object to be freed during inspection. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access to an affected KVM host; the stale reference exposes or alters kernel memory or crashes the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72282
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-367, T1499
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=4.8
  2. Affected versionversion=8a39d00670f0792c1186e442e1dd28fe0326f2ee <0cbae0e296d27ce4c4cce83e34d40c2bfd8133aa
  3. Affected versionversion=8a39d00670f0792c1186e442e1dd28fe0326f2ee <1b4a3c2f0509e7b0e65667f3c36676a849ee2755
  4. Affected versionversion=8a39d00670f0792c1186e442e1dd28fe0326f2ee <3a07249981629ace483ebbef81ef6b34c2d2afec
  5. Affected versionversion=8a39d00670f0792c1186e442e1dd28fe0326f2ee <7099e7148f81c605bbc319b16ce0131540341560
  6. Affected versionversion=8a39d00670f0792c1186e442e1dd28fe0326f2ee <90d35d2b8e47afd68fe2a4dd0eeb60bc71641775
  7. Affected versionversion=8a39d00670f0792c1186e442e1dd28fe0326f2ee <cfe107b02a3c3f049e0dc15b6a36625f048eda2a
  8. Affected versionversion=8a39d00670f0792c1186e442e1dd28fe0326f2ee <e01071ea006c9b952125ed8b0cc90ac7bd356cce
  9. Affected versionversion=8a39d00670f0792c1186e442e1dd28fe0326f2ee <f398b7d92cd999191249830b9171c9bd787a9a91

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.8; version=8a39d00670f0792c1186e442e1dd28fe0326f2ee <0cbae0e296d27ce4c4cce83e34d40c2bfd8133aa; version=8a39d00670f0792c1186e442e1dd28fe0326f2ee <1b4a3c2f0509e7b0e65667f3c36676a849ee2755; version=8a39d00670f0792c1186e442e1dd28fe0326f2ee <3a07249981629ace483ebbef81ef6b34c2d2afec; version=8a39d00670f0792c1186e442e1dd28fe0326f2ee <7099e7148f81c605bbc319b16ce0131540341560; version=8a39d00670f0792c1186e442e1dd28fe0326f2ee <90d35d2b8e47afd68fe2a4dd0eeb60bc71641775; version=8a39d00670f0792c1186e442e1dd28fe0326f2ee <cfe107b02a3c3f049e0dc15b6a36625f048eda2a; version=8a39d00670f0792c1186e442e1dd28fe0326f2ee <e01071ea006c9b952125ed8b0cc90ac7bd356cce; version=8a39d00670f0792c1186e442e1dd28fe0326f2ee <f398b7d92cd999191249830b9171c9bd787a9a91

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
4.7SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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-367Time-of-check Time-of-use Race Condition
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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