CVE-2026-72176: Linux kernel · mm/damon/sysfs-schemes: put stats for scheme_add_dirs() internal error
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, 14:05 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 that fixes the reference counting error in the damon_sysfs_scheme_add_dirs() function. Users should apply the official Linux kernel updates that address this issue. No additional mitigation steps are indicated or required beyond applying the fix.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's mm/damon/sysfs-schemes component caused improper handling of directory references during error conditions in the scheme_add_dirs() function. Specifically, when the setup of the tried_regions directory fails, the error path incorrectly releases the tried_regions directory reference instead of the stats directory, leading to a stats directory object leak and potential dereference of uninitialized memory. This flaw could cause kernel instability or crashes. The issue has been fixed by correcting the reference release logic.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-72176 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/05ea83ee88ca70f8932906d9f2617ff996f45b50 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/40a04601a3f66cabd6629c258a07af645a658865 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/50a753171d255895e5dd41566986b48dcec06f31 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6b6b5d7c2c957136b92c00b77b7175259f13082b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f63d6e5ba72aeacdee4fddc902bd7616cd62b919 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-72176 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-72176 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/05ea83ee88ca70f8932906d9f2617ff996f45b50 (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)