CVE-2026-72364

Data loss and hangs via writeback error cleanup

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Improper error handling in netfs writeback in the Linux kernel allows local users to delete buffered data or hang processes. On an allocation error, writeback_iter() exits without a cleanup call and leaves the current folio locked instead of redirtying and unlocking it. A local user with write access to a CIFS, 9p, or AFS mount can exhaust the folio queue or memory and force writeback, discarding unsaved data and indefinitely blocking access to affected pages.

CVSS severity7.1
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

Improper error handling in netfs writeback in the Linux kernel allows local users to delete buffered data or hang processes. On an allocation error, writeback_iter() exits without a cleanup call and leaves the current folio locked instead of redirtying and unlocking it. A local user with write access to a CIFS, 9p, or AFS mount can exhaust the folio queue or memory and force writeback, discarding unsaved data and indefinitely blocking access to affected pages.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72364
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-772, CWE-390, T1485, T1499.004
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=288ace2f57c9d06dd2e42bd80d03747d879a4068 <1bb33d959aabcde07d724b5eb9992462e91fa79a
  2. Affected versionversion=288ace2f57c9d06dd2e42bd80d03747d879a4068 <89df9c158a25d0a7c6ca079a9bd9ca7009d75c7b
  3. Affected versionversion=288ace2f57c9d06dd2e42bd80d03747d879a4068 <ac5f95ac5d6d0f4c567b8b642825705a2bf0d79e
  4. Affected versionversion=288ace2f57c9d06dd2e42bd80d03747d879a4068 <fb39ffd3cc5422887fd118668ff45ebfdbc83302
  5. Affected versionversion=6.10

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=288ace2f57c9d06dd2e42bd80d03747d879a4068 <1bb33d959aabcde07d724b5eb9992462e91fa79a; version=288ace2f57c9d06dd2e42bd80d03747d879a4068 <89df9c158a25d0a7c6ca079a9bd9ca7009d75c7b; version=288ace2f57c9d06dd2e42bd80d03747d879a4068 <ac5f95ac5d6d0f4c567b8b642825705a2bf0d79e; version=288ace2f57c9d06dd2e42bd80d03747d879a4068 <fb39ffd3cc5422887fd118668ff45ebfdbc83302; version=6.10

Published CVSS scores

5.5Oracle LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.1Linux CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
6.9SUSECVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
5.5Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
6.1SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/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-772Missing Release of Resource after Effective Lifetime
CWE-390Detection of Error Condition Without Action
T1485Data Destruction
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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