CVE-2026-72021: Linux kernel · ipvs: use parsed transport offset in SCTP state lookup
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 8.2 High · fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.5% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 47% 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:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/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
A patch is available and should be applied to affected Linux kernel versions. The vendor advisory from Ubuntu confirms that this issue has been fixed. Users should update their Linux kernel packages to versions including this fix to mitigate the vulnerability.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's IP Virtual Server (IPVS) SCTP state lookup was resolved. The issue involved incorrect offset calculation for SCTP packets with IPv6 extension headers, causing the SCTP state machine to misinterpret packet states and update connection states improperly. This could lead to incorrect connection state transitions and inaccurate timeout handling. The flaw was fixed by using the correct parsed transport offset for SCTP chunk-header lookup.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-72021 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/247d055504dcc852e539b9f7f30d19f9741474bf (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/290e9e8389b556efc603522e28bd1543846aa336 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2f75c0faa3361b28e36cc0512b3299e163e25789 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9cb5ac594ca76d3a71803b23b74c835b0721e628 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9f94573ab962a9e81954b755da016fa3cd2f5039 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a4a2d2e483d79cc2ad3a170674cf159644acf22b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d2b8b1557ec07ea1bb5dddbceaf4dfe63d388e27 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e5d0bb8871668f20de8f3c94b5ae3f372346bc6e (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-72021 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-72021 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/2f75c0faa3361b28e36cc0512b3299e163e25789 (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)