CVE-2026-72426Public exploit

Invalid BPF program acceptance via spill metadata loss

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Improper BPF verifier validation in Linux 7.1 allows local users to load a program containing a partial pointer-spill fill. During half-slot cleanup, __clean_func_state() clears spilled_ptr metadata and converts the live half to scalar stack data, bypassing the non-scalar fill check. Reachability requires permission to call BPF_PROG_LOAD; the invalid bytecode is accepted, while further security impact is not publicly established.

CVSS severity8.4
High
EPSS probability0.18%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper BPF verifier validation in Linux 7.1 allows local users to load a program containing a partial pointer-spill fill. During half-slot cleanup, __clean_func_state() clears spilled_ptr metadata and converts the live half to scalar stack data, bypassing the non-scalar fill check. Reachability requires permission to call BPF_PROG_LOAD; the invalid bytecode is accepted, while further security impact is not publicly established.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72426
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
local
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=7.1
  2. Affected versionversion=be23266b4a08540aa43d8503a2ea10247c8daebe <0f9278b22cda6fd2525049930157b79b4036b4ef
  3. Affected versionversion=be23266b4a08540aa43d8503a2ea10247c8daebe <3a354149bceacadbcf7d7b4766f5ef26a85892ab

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=7.1; version=be23266b4a08540aa43d8503a2ea10247c8daebe <0f9278b22cda6fd2525049930157b79b4036b4ef; version=be23266b4a08540aa43d8503a2ea10247c8daebe <3a354149bceacadbcf7d7b4766f5ef26a85892ab

Published CVSS scores

8.4UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.5UbuntuCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

Public exploit references

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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