CVE-2026-72435

Kernel compromise via stale ipset comment pointer

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Memory corruption in the Linux kernel netfilter ipset component allows local users to compromise the kernel through crafted comment updates. The comment-extension path calls kfree_rcu() before replacing the published RCU pointer, so concurrent LIST or SAVE readers dereference freed comment memory. A low-privileged user with CAP_NET_ADMIN in a user and network namespace can trigger kernel disclosure, corruption, privilege escalation, or a crash without user interaction.

CVSS severity7.8
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

Memory corruption in the Linux kernel netfilter ipset component allows local users to compromise the kernel through crafted comment updates. The comment-extension path calls kfree_rcu() before replacing the published RCU pointer, so concurrent LIST or SAVE readers dereference freed comment memory. A low-privileged user with CAP_NET_ADMIN in a user and network namespace can trigger kernel disclosure, corruption, privilege escalation, or a crash without user interaction.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72435
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-825, 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=4.2
  2. Affected versionversion=b57b2d1fa53fe8563bdfc66a33b844463b9af285 <3ca9982a8882470aa0ac4e8bb9a552b181d1efcd
  3. Affected versionversion=b57b2d1fa53fe8563bdfc66a33b844463b9af285 <50b70f56f3baaff46599f59b2d93fa2540120776
  4. Affected versionversion=b57b2d1fa53fe8563bdfc66a33b844463b9af285 <6e98407cb94e035bba98956adc9096a76d8b2a9f
  5. Affected versionversion=b57b2d1fa53fe8563bdfc66a33b844463b9af285 <8087bb360a936a6314d22b567e4b861656943eb6
  6. Affected versionversion=b57b2d1fa53fe8563bdfc66a33b844463b9af285 <93a775fd67f3ef34949a9523bfa69403ee74efdd
  7. Affected versionversion=b57b2d1fa53fe8563bdfc66a33b844463b9af285 <c9787d7c24ffd83019f379455e1b97fb4f0f75eb
  8. Affected versionversion=b57b2d1fa53fe8563bdfc66a33b844463b9af285 <d01b4b471f0fc5c396af62845e972ccf99cee29a
  9. Affected versionversion=b57b2d1fa53fe8563bdfc66a33b844463b9af285 <fcb565966534909377a16be5f7b065db2e25c8b5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.2; version=b57b2d1fa53fe8563bdfc66a33b844463b9af285 <3ca9982a8882470aa0ac4e8bb9a552b181d1efcd; version=b57b2d1fa53fe8563bdfc66a33b844463b9af285 <50b70f56f3baaff46599f59b2d93fa2540120776; version=b57b2d1fa53fe8563bdfc66a33b844463b9af285 <6e98407cb94e035bba98956adc9096a76d8b2a9f; version=b57b2d1fa53fe8563bdfc66a33b844463b9af285 <8087bb360a936a6314d22b567e4b861656943eb6; version=b57b2d1fa53fe8563bdfc66a33b844463b9af285 <93a775fd67f3ef34949a9523bfa69403ee74efdd; version=b57b2d1fa53fe8563bdfc66a33b844463b9af285 <c9787d7c24ffd83019f379455e1b97fb4f0f75eb; version=b57b2d1fa53fe8563bdfc66a33b844463b9af285 <d01b4b471f0fc5c396af62845e972ccf99cee29a; version=b57b2d1fa53fe8563bdfc66a33b844463b9af285 <fcb565966534909377a16be5f7b065db2e25c8b5

Published CVSS scores

5.5Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.8Linux CNACVSS: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

CWE-825Expired Pointer Dereference
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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