CVE-2026-72482

Local kernel memory corruption via descriptor counter underflow

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel GPIB driver allows local users to corrupt kernel memory by racing command and close ioctls. The command_ioctl() error path decrements descriptor_busy before breaking, then the common exit decrements it again and underflows the descriptor pin count. Any local user able to access an online /dev/gpibN device can race a failing command ioctl against close_dev_ioctl(), freeing an in-use kernel object and causing memory corruption or a kernel crash.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.13%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel GPIB driver allows local users to corrupt kernel memory by racing command and close ioctls. The command_ioctl() error path decrements descriptor_busy before breaking, then the common exit decrements it again and underflows the descriptor pin count. Any local user able to access an online /dev/gpibN device can race a failing command ioctl against close_dev_ioctl(), freeing an in-use kernel object and causing memory corruption or a kernel crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72482
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-416, CWE-911, 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=28c75dd143ead62e0dfac564c79d251e21d5d74b
  2. Affected versionversion=6.18.22 <6.18.40
  3. Affected versionversion=6.19.12 <6.20
  4. Affected versionversion=7.0
  5. Affected versionversion=cae26eff1b56d78bed7873cf3e60a2b1bdd4da6c <fdee9f207a48ce204ec6cfceaa1459d2473600a5
  6. Affected versionversion=d1857f8296dceb75d00ab857fc3c61bc00c7f5c6 <8b5f1d295dda8677e4545ce340053fcfa8b634c7
  7. Affected versionversion=d1857f8296dceb75d00ab857fc3c61bc00c7f5c6 <c4faab452b3c1ada003d49c477609dd80523b9bf

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=28c75dd143ead62e0dfac564c79d251e21d5d74b; version=6.18.22 <6.18.40; version=6.19.12 <6.20; version=7.0; version=cae26eff1b56d78bed7873cf3e60a2b1bdd4da6c <fdee9f207a48ce204ec6cfceaa1459d2473600a5; version=d1857f8296dceb75d00ab857fc3c61bc00c7f5c6 <8b5f1d295dda8677e4545ce340053fcfa8b634c7; version=d1857f8296dceb75d00ab857fc3c61bc00c7f5c6 <c4faab452b3c1ada003d49c477609dd80523b9bf

Published CVSS scores

7.8Linux CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.0Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/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.

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
CWE-911Improper Update of Reference Count
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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo