CVE-2026-72005: Linux kernel · wifi: rt2x00: avoid full teardown before work setup in probe
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 5% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1123.132~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1122.131~20.04.1 +42
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 15 Aug 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
An official patch is available and should be applied to affected Linux kernel versions to resolve this issue. The vendor advisory from Ubuntu confirms that this and other Linux kernel vulnerabilities have been fixed. Users should update their Linux kernel packages to the fixed versions provided by their distribution. No additional mitigation steps are required beyond applying the official fix.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's rt2x00 wireless driver was resolved that involved improper handling of failure conditions during device probe setup. Specifically, the driver could enter a full teardown path before certain work items were initialized if memory allocations failed early, leading to invalid work drain operations. This flaw was identified through static analysis and manual code review. The issue affects specific Linux kernel versions and has a CVSS score of 7.8, indicating a high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. A patch is available to correct this behavior.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-72005 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3c0427d719bddb33caf18ff4ffb77cb47de7eb00 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/536fb3d739d75a03cb318c0c6fe799425cfea501 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/56994852d704535ea354a4627ca667b1b4fa0deb (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/59afe6148927395cf86f9429900e029a48b1d42b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/66bd9b1a72de7c2f5141b02d796048aafaed8a49 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/816559409e340acaa5c9d868291dab30d8c80263 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8b58d1f1356df6a7d2de3f55bb665b18b04ffda0 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/eb7474d0253bb2de4793e1d3ce833e8564bbe732 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-72005 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-72005 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/536fb3d739d75a03cb318c0c6fe799425cfea501 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8876-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8878-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8879-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8877-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8875-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8888-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8889-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8887-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8886-1 (opens in a new tab)