CVE-2026-72390

Local privilege escalation via TEQL list race

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel TEQL scheduler allows local users to crash the kernel or gain elevated privileges. Concurrent writes in teql_master_xmit(), teql_dequeue(), teql_init(), and teql_destroy() mutate the unlocked master->slaves list while another CPU can retain a pointer to a freed qdisc. Exploitation requires local rtnetlink qdisc operations and packet injection with CAP_NET_ADMIN in a user and network namespace, and successful triggering can corrupt kernel memory or panic the host.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.16%
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 TEQL scheduler allows local users to crash the kernel or gain elevated privileges. Concurrent writes in teql_master_xmit(), teql_dequeue(), teql_init(), and teql_destroy() mutate the unlocked master->slaves list while another CPU can retain a pointer to a freed qdisc. Exploitation requires local rtnetlink qdisc operations and packet injection with CAP_NET_ADMIN in a user and network namespace, and successful triggering can corrupt kernel memory or panic the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72390
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
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=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <03c67781254c574ae7fa75e881239a78473bdf42
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <11402e6e18e96df615cbcc58157818dd604b23ff
  3. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <735567bde7401f82b064f9f107b52ee1bf84ed8c
  4. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9b7d05cbaa60108642402100efa6aa288dd33023
  5. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <b26aa9d993537a4c3167d8ceead3b7c69c3a0aac
  6. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <e5b811fe793166aecc59b085c1b7c31262ef2316
  7. Affected versionversion=2.6.12

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <03c67781254c574ae7fa75e881239a78473bdf42; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <11402e6e18e96df615cbcc58157818dd604b23ff; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <735567bde7401f82b064f9f107b52ee1bf84ed8c; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9b7d05cbaa60108642402100efa6aa288dd33023; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <b26aa9d993537a4c3167d8ceead3b7c69c3a0aac; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <e5b811fe793166aecc59b085c1b7c31262ef2316; version=2.6.12

Published CVSS scores

7.8LinuxCVSS: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

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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