CVE-2026-72322Network attack vector

Kernel panic via MLD delayed-work use-after-free

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Use-after-free in Linux IPv6 multicast handling allows remote attackers to crash affected systems via incoming MLD queries. During device teardown, igmp6_event_query() increments an inet6_dev reference from zero and schedules work after RCU has queued the object for release. The race requires incoming MLD traffic to coincide with network-device teardown; delayed work then dereferences the freed object and panics the kernel.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.72%
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 IPv6 multicast handling allows remote attackers to crash affected systems via incoming MLD queries. During device teardown, igmp6_event_query() increments an inet6_dev reference from zero and schedules work after RCU has queued the object for release. The race requires incoming MLD traffic to coincide with network-device teardown; delayed work then dereferences the freed object and panics the kernel.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72322
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-911, 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=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <0401d6cf7877c9be36652385dfcbf7f891b8b590
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <0458ba1cda830ba4ccfcd9e19c0891438bcdbe4e
  3. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9815e834f5ff8b39e0ea9f0dbd532f4a3b8f0785
  4. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9b26518b6896a16b809b1e42986f4ebac7bccc1e
  5. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9ce741c22df4fd9546e30306317ac7df3607e48f
  6. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <ebbebf6cee950d7f1c81990256c0eae9e62572ae
  7. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <f03b0a45535d49bdab7e502efaacee205b2a7865
  8. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <f12b63ef26a035c5a29b3ef56401e38199010d4a
  9. Affected versionversion=2.6.12

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <0401d6cf7877c9be36652385dfcbf7f891b8b590; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <0458ba1cda830ba4ccfcd9e19c0891438bcdbe4e; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9815e834f5ff8b39e0ea9f0dbd532f4a3b8f0785; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9b26518b6896a16b809b1e42986f4ebac7bccc1e; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9ce741c22df4fd9546e30306317ac7df3607e48f; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <ebbebf6cee950d7f1c81990256c0eae9e62572ae; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <f03b0a45535d49bdab7e502efaacee205b2a7865; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <f12b63ef26a035c5a29b3ef56401e38199010d4a; version=2.6.12

Published CVSS scores

5.3Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.0Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8Linux CNACVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.0Oracle 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.

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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-911Improper Update of Reference Count
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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