CVE-2026-72273: Linux kernel · fbdev: efifb: fix memory leak in efifb_probe()
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, 12:55 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
An official patch is available and should be applied to affected linux-hwe-edge kernel versions. Upgrading to patched kernel versions resolves the memory leak issue. No additional mitigation steps are indicated by the vendor advisory.
Description
A memory leak vulnerability in the Linux kernel's efifb driver (framebuffer device) was fixed. The issue occurred because a string returned from fb_get_options() was not freed by the efifb_probe() function, leading to a memory leak. This was corrected by freeing the option string after setup. The vulnerability affects specific versions of the linux-hwe-edge kernel and has been patched.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-72273 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/475383daf5f855f5b2c3a9aa801f69b69a81799e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5276e3f75ddb51f980a8903f4b39e73cf42415e5 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9b6eaf101656958397a6012bf43f6e2e42c9e5cb (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/fafb2e08741b20027cee77918816de29a32d6fd6 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/febb5b4f67ace78d6b6862cc3c853b64710afb6c (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-72273 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-72273 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/9b6eaf101656958397a6012bf43f6e2e42c9e5cb (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)