CVE-2026-72144: Linux kernel · platform/x86: dell-laptop: fix missing cleanups in init error path
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
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
Thin evidence
One scorer or none| CNA (Linux) | CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 |
|---|
- 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:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 15 Aug 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: 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 30 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
|
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
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b0a2f1ff408beb3aa5832098e8805db4d31dba7e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e4908b3bed755f73870416b971e162a8d0ef0aef (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6bd76d5421a72d2526c9be8f01f55bee960f899f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1e41ca4a7fba2e680d6950e9511245255fffa46c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b351e082711d12f075a36a6cd67709693689315f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6e9cab2247e5b243ae2d907ce7c948a8a9c8d61a (opens in a new tab)