CVE-2026-72309

Local denial of service via trace-buffer leak

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

A memory leak in Linux kernel 7.1 remote tracing allows local users to deplete kernel memory by triggering a page-allocation failure. In trace_remote_alloc_buffer(), the CPU count is updated only after all per-CPU pages are allocated, so trace_remote_free_buffer() skips a partially allocated descriptor when a later allocation fails. The path requires privileged access to remote tracing, and repeated failures can consume memory and interrupt service without affecting confidentiality or integrity.

CVSS severity1.9
Low
EPSS probability0.20%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A memory leak in Linux kernel 7.1 remote tracing allows local users to deplete kernel memory by triggering a page-allocation failure. In trace_remote_alloc_buffer(), the CPU count is updated only after all per-CPU pages are allocated, so trace_remote_free_buffer() skips a partially allocated descriptor when a later allocation fails. The path requires privileged access to remote tracing, and repeated failures can consume memory and interrupt service without affecting confidentiality or integrity.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72309
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499.004
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=7.1
  2. Affected versionversion=96e43537af5461b26f50904c6055046ba65d742f <81a7b7ddb07efdd8cf30eac6def18b9289b8de1e
  3. Affected versionversion=96e43537af5461b26f50904c6055046ba65d742f <ec082d0b978b5fb4c11205ccce63587ac94c74e1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=7.1; version=96e43537af5461b26f50904c6055046ba65d742f <81a7b7ddb07efdd8cf30eac6def18b9289b8de1e; version=96e43537af5461b26f50904c6055046ba65d742f <ec082d0b978b5fb4c11205ccce63587ac94c74e1

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

T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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