Kernel memory corruption via unordered netfs retry traversal
Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026
Race condition in Linux kernel netfs 6.10 through 7.1.4 allows remote attackers to corrupt kernel memory via retried network file I/O. The read and write retry walkers read a newly linked subrequest's state without an acquire barrier; the patch replaces ordinary list iteration with smp_load_acquire(). Reachability requires an active SMB/CIFS, Ceph, NFS with fscache, or AFS mount and retry-inducing responses; consequences include disclosure, arbitrary kernel writes, and a crash or hang.
Summary
What happened
Race condition in Linux kernel netfs 6.10 through 7.1.4 allows remote attackers to corrupt kernel memory via retried network file I/O. The read and write retry walkers read a newly linked subrequest's state without an acquire barrier; the patch replaces ordinary list iteration with smp_load_acquire(). Reachability requires an active SMB/CIFS, Ceph, NFS with fscache, or AFS mount and retry-inducing responses; consequences include disclosure, arbitrary kernel writes, and a crash or hang.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-72355
- Published
- Aug 15, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 15, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1203
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 15, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=288ace2f57c9d06dd2e42bd80d03747d879a4068 <5c6ce05e406520290c1d89da97fb3cd70c09137d
- Affected versionversion=288ace2f57c9d06dd2e42bd80d03747d879a4068 <be47c047250671c9225c0319ca4695be9b391c59
- Affected versionversion=6.10
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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