CVE-2026-72378Network attack vector

Kernel crash via stale AFS parser error

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Improper error handling in the Linux kernel AFS client allows remote attackers to crash the host via a malformed AFSDB reply. On the second or later address, afs_extract_vl_addrs() can retain a prior success code after freeing the list and return NULL as if parsing succeeded. Remote attackers able to supply the DNS server-list payload can cause a NULL-pointer dereference during AFS cell lookup or TTL refresh, interrupting the system.

CVSS severity4.1
Medium
EPSS probability0.71%
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 the Linux kernel AFS client allows remote attackers to crash the host via a malformed AFSDB reply. On the second or later address, afs_extract_vl_addrs() can retain a prior success code after freeing the list and return NULL as if parsing succeeded. Remote attackers able to supply the DNS server-list payload can cause a NULL-pointer dereference during AFS cell lookup or TTL refresh, interrupting the system.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72378
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-701, T1499.004
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

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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=0a5143f2f89cc88d8a3eada8e8ccd86c1e988257 <4897cb71d4ab1f7e1a214adb1e4b80176702368d
  2. Affected versionversion=0a5143f2f89cc88d8a3eada8e8ccd86c1e988257 <4e0b047848a855f2c933a6439f76a01743ba5620
  3. Affected versionversion=0a5143f2f89cc88d8a3eada8e8ccd86c1e988257 <7ce6737a975ea3e0dc2e5946628d233779ca0caf
  4. Affected versionversion=0a5143f2f89cc88d8a3eada8e8ccd86c1e988257 <8530206911fd66ad739ca5ce95f1d069f3d42204
  5. Affected versionversion=0a5143f2f89cc88d8a3eada8e8ccd86c1e988257 <9ad9016e3333c3c1f9284a253ff0658369e07aac
  6. Affected versionversion=0a5143f2f89cc88d8a3eada8e8ccd86c1e988257 <bdcd80ff12939d172043fac5eb822b92366a1bab
  7. Affected versionversion=0a5143f2f89cc88d8a3eada8e8ccd86c1e988257 <cb33dd2968588c78fad78dec19f61cabe5785494
  8. Affected versionversion=0a5143f2f89cc88d8a3eada8e8ccd86c1e988257 <f70fbf2b974b63a7042705c2b0464cb8c97e9f34
  9. Affected versionversion=4.20

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=0a5143f2f89cc88d8a3eada8e8ccd86c1e988257 <4897cb71d4ab1f7e1a214adb1e4b80176702368d; version=0a5143f2f89cc88d8a3eada8e8ccd86c1e988257 <4e0b047848a855f2c933a6439f76a01743ba5620; version=0a5143f2f89cc88d8a3eada8e8ccd86c1e988257 <7ce6737a975ea3e0dc2e5946628d233779ca0caf; version=0a5143f2f89cc88d8a3eada8e8ccd86c1e988257 <8530206911fd66ad739ca5ce95f1d069f3d42204; version=0a5143f2f89cc88d8a3eada8e8ccd86c1e988257 <9ad9016e3333c3c1f9284a253ff0658369e07aac; version=0a5143f2f89cc88d8a3eada8e8ccd86c1e988257 <bdcd80ff12939d172043fac5eb822b92366a1bab; version=0a5143f2f89cc88d8a3eada8e8ccd86c1e988257 <cb33dd2968588c78fad78dec19f61cabe5785494; version=0a5143f2f89cc88d8a3eada8e8ccd86c1e988257 <f70fbf2b974b63a7042705c2b0464cb8c97e9f34; version=4.20

Published CVSS scores

7.5Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
4.1Oracle LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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-701Weaknesses Introduced During Design
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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