CVE-2026-72135: Linux kernel · tpm: Make the TPM character devices non-seekable
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 28 Oct 2026, 05:11 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 6% 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 +56
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.
Patches and advisories
- 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)
- 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-8875-2 (opens in a new tab)
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 has been applied in Linux kernel versions 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1 and later listed fixed versions. Users should update to these fixed kernel versions to remediate the vulnerability. The fix disables positional I/O on TPM character devices by marking them non-seekable, preventing the out-of-bounds memory access. No additional mitigation actions are required beyond applying the official kernel updates.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel TPM character device interface allows out-of-bounds heap reads and zero-writes due to improper handling of positional I/O offsets. The flaw arises because the TPM character devices were incorrectly marked as seekable, enabling pread and pwrite calls with arbitrary offsets that lead to memory corruption. This issue has been fixed by making the TPM character devices non-seekable, preventing positional I/O operations that cause the vulnerability.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-72135 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-72135 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/f20d61c22bcaf172d6790b6500e3838e532e71c8 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/21a13f932972bc9836f58c44fcd47c62abdecd95 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/232dcf908eb7eb9d8046a9597975caf44270966e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/947b773caaa548672184df025271b29bdc80b0f1 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9c513dabd4540f811585a2087f23069767a284da (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ada4b9a5087ea7f30dd8e4c6411a4fb6547eb1ed (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/dda695fab5e21f923d29e8cb01df256468ddfbd1 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ed0ffc2c016629e40ba041ed0424a772d8b02e2c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f20d61c22bcaf172d6790b6500e3838e532e71c8 (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)