CVE-2026-72016: Linux kernel · cpu/hotplug: Fix NULL kobject warning in cpuhp_smt_enable()
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC
Rated by Threat Radar · CVSS not yet scored by NVD
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 10% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1, 7.0.0-1017.17~24.04.1, 7.0.0-1016.16~24.04.1 +11
Exploitation 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
A patch is available and should be applied to affected Linux kernel versions to resolve the issue. The fix properly manages CPU presence masks during boot and prevents NULL kobject warnings. Users should update to patched kernel versions as indicated by their distribution's security advisories. No additional mitigation is required beyond applying the official fix.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ARM64 CPU hotplug code was fixed to prevent a NULL kobject warning caused by improper handling of CPU presence during boot. Specifically, when booting with maxcpus greater than the number of present CPUs, some CPUs are marked as present but not registered, leading to attempts to create sysfs groups with NULL kobjects. The fix aligns ARM64 CPU hotplug behavior with other architectures by properly managing CPU presence masks based on ACPI data.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-72016 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/901a489d89ee9c854624c8444090e38e70aed234 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ccdf1770a4ba27e31599d24ad970d77a371c7912 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f9a82544c7174851f5c7524622f5966dcafd3a47 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-72016 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-72016 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/f9a82544c7174851f5c7524622f5966dcafd3a47 (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-8888-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8887-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8887-3 (opens in a new tab)