CVE-2026-72331

Kernel use-after-free via stale VMA pointer

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel amdxdna accelerator driver 6.16 allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through a VMA access race. The aie2_populate_range() and amdxdna_umap_release() functions dereference a saved VMA pointer after concurrent release has freed the underlying VMA. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access and a reachable amdxdna mapping path; successful memory corruption can crash the system or elevate privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.17%
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 the Linux kernel amdxdna accelerator driver 6.16 allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through a VMA access race. The aie2_populate_range() and amdxdna_umap_release() functions dereference a saved VMA pointer after concurrent release has freed the underlying VMA. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access and a reachable amdxdna mapping path; successful memory corruption can crash the system or elevate privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72331
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-825, 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=6.16
  2. Affected versionversion=e486147c912f653ef4b60a6c7dbd4168a4c56a9f <1ba02717e821cf14ece642273958647e79698d3d
  3. Affected versionversion=e486147c912f653ef4b60a6c7dbd4168a4c56a9f <bea20225c67fed9be3e98619c77af6ee3f43fe07

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.16; version=e486147c912f653ef4b60a6c7dbd4168a4c56a9f <1ba02717e821cf14ece642273958647e79698d3d; version=e486147c912f653ef4b60a6c7dbd4168a4c56a9f <bea20225c67fed9be3e98619c77af6ee3f43fe07

Published CVSS scores

4.7Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.8Linux CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-825Expired Pointer Dereference
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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