CVE-2026-72338

Kernel heap corruption via traffic-control TOCTOU race

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Heap out-of-bounds write in Linux kernel traffic control allows local users with CAP_NET_ADMIN to corrupt adjacent kernel heap objects. The tcf_pedit_offload_act_setup path sizes a flow_rule buffer from tcfp_nkeys, then rereads the mutable key count while filling it without one shared lock or complete capacity accounting. Concurrent flower and action updates in separate locking domains can race; exploitation requires CAP_NET_ADMIN and writes attacker-controlled content into the adjacent slab object.

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

Heap out-of-bounds write in Linux kernel traffic control allows local users with CAP_NET_ADMIN to corrupt adjacent kernel heap objects. The tcf_pedit_offload_act_setup path sizes a flow_rule buffer from tcfp_nkeys, then rereads the mutable key count while filling it without one shared lock or complete capacity accounting. Concurrent flower and action updates in separate locking domains can race; exploitation requires CAP_NET_ADMIN and writes attacker-controlled content into the adjacent slab object.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72338
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1068
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=4.11
  2. Affected versionversion=71d0ed7079dffbc5cd0941d77d9b84e04109c9bb <0d8532a5e972a5351cf4ee4a435e0d65cbba8f23
  3. Affected versionversion=71d0ed7079dffbc5cd0941d77d9b84e04109c9bb <27488e1a7f19757e6146edca9458ed4ffc545557
  4. Affected versionversion=71d0ed7079dffbc5cd0941d77d9b84e04109c9bb <6f9b23eb92a894ae1118893996943990ee0b860e
  5. Affected versionversion=71d0ed7079dffbc5cd0941d77d9b84e04109c9bb <8b519cbcabe836a441369fbec1a8a6518a709251
  6. Affected versionversion=71d0ed7079dffbc5cd0941d77d9b84e04109c9bb <8e49cd891bda447c68122d672510a604a8bb6b24

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.11; version=71d0ed7079dffbc5cd0941d77d9b84e04109c9bb <0d8532a5e972a5351cf4ee4a435e0d65cbba8f23; version=71d0ed7079dffbc5cd0941d77d9b84e04109c9bb <27488e1a7f19757e6146edca9458ed4ffc545557; version=71d0ed7079dffbc5cd0941d77d9b84e04109c9bb <6f9b23eb92a894ae1118893996943990ee0b860e; version=71d0ed7079dffbc5cd0941d77d9b84e04109c9bb <8b519cbcabe836a441369fbec1a8a6518a709251; version=71d0ed7079dffbc5cd0941d77d9b84e04109c9bb <8e49cd891bda447c68122d672510a604a8bb6b24

Published CVSS scores

7.8UbuntuCVSS: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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

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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