CVE-2026-72489

Kernel-memory read via premature RX message release

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Use-after-free in the nvec driver in affected Linux kernel branches beginning with 3.2 allows local users to trigger a post-free read. nvec_rx_completed() frees an incomplete RX message before reading data[0], allowing reuse of the pool slot to replace that byte. The path requires the nvec driver and an incomplete embedded-controller RX transfer; concurrent slot reuse can alter the battery-quirk decision.

CVSS severity8.4
High
EPSS probability0.15%
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 nvec driver in affected Linux kernel branches beginning with 3.2 allows local users to trigger a post-free read. nvec_rx_completed() frees an incomplete RX message before reading data[0], allowing reuse of the pool slot to replace that byte. The path requires the nvec driver and an incomplete embedded-controller RX transfer; concurrent slot reuse can alter the battery-quirk decision.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72489
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1068
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=3.2
  2. Affected versionversion=d6bdcf2e1019351cbc176e963b7756766bdd8721 <08626fcfe12308ca3f8b22c538ba7dee0b2dce7a
  3. Affected versionversion=d6bdcf2e1019351cbc176e963b7756766bdd8721 <26813881181deb3a32fbb59eadb2599cbe8423f6
  4. Affected versionversion=d6bdcf2e1019351cbc176e963b7756766bdd8721 <5de04caa46b635e180cecbd164e333eca535db94
  5. Affected versionversion=d6bdcf2e1019351cbc176e963b7756766bdd8721 <6b2ea886ebdae44a2394029844a4e78f58e1587d
  6. Affected versionversion=d6bdcf2e1019351cbc176e963b7756766bdd8721 <9f7fe4165a1f1014bdadc8e744c0fd3c2d8c0b89
  7. Affected versionversion=d6bdcf2e1019351cbc176e963b7756766bdd8721 <a37625c7b688fcf68a54263528eccbabfd7fa17a
  8. Affected versionversion=d6bdcf2e1019351cbc176e963b7756766bdd8721 <bb3d592c7d6c4ec8ac6640c690ca13298e7e8e90
  9. Affected versionversion=d6bdcf2e1019351cbc176e963b7756766bdd8721 <f19a5bc059051143c489dd6f79a0f9c3bfd13aea

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3.2; version=d6bdcf2e1019351cbc176e963b7756766bdd8721 <08626fcfe12308ca3f8b22c538ba7dee0b2dce7a; version=d6bdcf2e1019351cbc176e963b7756766bdd8721 <26813881181deb3a32fbb59eadb2599cbe8423f6; version=d6bdcf2e1019351cbc176e963b7756766bdd8721 <5de04caa46b635e180cecbd164e333eca535db94; version=d6bdcf2e1019351cbc176e963b7756766bdd8721 <6b2ea886ebdae44a2394029844a4e78f58e1587d; version=d6bdcf2e1019351cbc176e963b7756766bdd8721 <9f7fe4165a1f1014bdadc8e744c0fd3c2d8c0b89; version=d6bdcf2e1019351cbc176e963b7756766bdd8721 <a37625c7b688fcf68a54263528eccbabfd7fa17a; version=d6bdcf2e1019351cbc176e963b7756766bdd8721 <bb3d592c7d6c4ec8ac6640c690ca13298e7e8e90; version=d6bdcf2e1019351cbc176e963b7756766bdd8721 <f19a5bc059051143c489dd6f79a0f9c3bfd13aea

Published CVSS scores

5.5SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
2.5Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
8.4Linux Kernel CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/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
Privilegesunauthenticated
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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