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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2026-72144: Linux kernel · platform/x86: dell-laptop: fix missing cleanups in init error path

Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5

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Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in e4908b3bed755f73870416b971e162a8d0ef0aef : patch Linux kernel soon.

Data as of 30 Oct 2026, 13:32 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
7.8High
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.

Thin evidence

One scorer or none
CVSS scores by source
CNA (Linux)CVSS 3.17.8
CISA SSVC
Exploitation
No evidence of active exploitation and no public proof of concept
Automatable
Attackers cannot reliably automate steps 1–4 of the kill chain
Technical impact
Total control over the software or total information disclosure

CISA SSVC assessment, 2026-10-16.

Patch
Available – fixed in e4908b3bed755f73870416b971e162a8d0ef0aef, b351e082711d12f075a36a6cd67709693689315f, b0a2f1ff408beb3aa5832098e8805db4d31dba7e +3
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 15 Aug 2026

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponized: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq 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 30 Oct 2026.

What to do

Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.

Affected software

ProductAffectedFixed in
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 037accfa14b28ecf49d9060063929c4b4cde373f, < e4908b3bed755f73870416b971e162a8d0ef0aef
Fixed in
  • e4908b3bed755f73870416b971e162a8d0ef0aef
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 037accfa14b28ecf49d9060063929c4b4cde373f, < b351e082711d12f075a36a6cd67709693689315f
Fixed in
  • b351e082711d12f075a36a6cd67709693689315f
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 037accfa14b28ecf49d9060063929c4b4cde373f, < b0a2f1ff408beb3aa5832098e8805db4d31dba7e
Fixed in
  • b0a2f1ff408beb3aa5832098e8805db4d31dba7e
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 037accfa14b28ecf49d9060063929c4b4cde373f, < 6e9cab2247e5b243ae2d907ce7c948a8a9c8d61a
Fixed in
  • 6e9cab2247e5b243ae2d907ce7c948a8a9c8d61a
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 037accfa14b28ecf49d9060063929c4b4cde373f, < 6bd76d5421a72d2526c9be8f01f55bee960f899f
Fixed in
  • 6bd76d5421a72d2526c9be8f01f55bee960f899f
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 037accfa14b28ecf49d9060063929c4b4cde373f, < 1e41ca4a7fba2e680d6950e9511245255fffa46c
Fixed in
  • 1e41ca4a7fba2e680d6950e9511245255fffa46c

AI-suggested

A fix is available and has been applied in multiple commits following version 2.6.37. Users should update to a fixed Linux kernel version containing these commits to remediate the issue. Since this is a kernel-level vulnerability, applying the official patch or upgrading the kernel is the recommended mitigation.

Description

CVE-2026-72144 is a high-severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel affecting version 2.6.37. It involves missing cleanup operations in the initialization error path of the dell-laptop platform driver. Specifically, if registration of certain LEDs or backlight components fails, some resources remain registered improperly, potentially leading to system instability or security issues. The vulnerability has been fixed in several subsequent commits.

References

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