CVE-2026-72242: Linux kernel · selinux: avoid sk_socket dereference in selinux_sctp_bind_connect()
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.5 High · fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.6% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 52% 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 +12
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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 confirms that the issue has been fixed in updated kernel releases. Users should update to the fixed versions to mitigate this vulnerability. No additional mitigation steps are indicated by the vendor advisory.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's SELinux subsystem was resolved that involved unsafe dereferencing of sk->sk_socket in the selinux_sctp_bind_connect() function. This dereference could occur when invoked from the ASCONF softirq path, where no file reference guarantees sk->sk_socket is non-NULL. The issue was fixed by refactoring the code to avoid touching sk->sk_socket directly. The vulnerability affects specific Linux kernel versions and has a CVSS score of 7.5 with a medium severity rating.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-72242 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/37d642b37ccdc31e1947c2ebc8dc38f03d4a0ceb (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/56acfeb10019e200ab6787d01f8d7cbe0f01526f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5d4d93f9bfbc997ffbb03cd6107e8f6979dbb9b4 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/cc8bd47b35eca82393cbad08b1cc86f02e034439 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d61a80b17254be7230bc5544f8e62ddf21ab38e2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-72242 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-72242 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/56acfeb10019e200ab6787d01f8d7cbe0f01526f (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-8887-3 (opens in a new tab)