CVE-2026-72290: Linux kernel · KVM: s390: pci: Fix GISC refcount leak on AIF enable failure
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 4.8 Medium · fixed in 6.8.0-147.147 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 11% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 6.8.0-147.147, 6.8.0-1067.70, 7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1 +25
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:NExploitation 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 this issue has been fixed. Users should update to the fixed kernel versions to remediate this vulnerability.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's KVM s390 PCI subsystem caused a reference count leak when enabling the Guest Interrupt Steering Controller (GISC) failed during the kvm_s390_gisc_register() function. This occurred because the function did not unregister the GISC reference on error paths after partial setup. The issue has been fixed by adding the missing unregister call to the error unwind path.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-72290 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3882224b0e714f34de91e5f28307c5d3fccfe8f8 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5fb75c5272950b3ebe8bdee7abfdafd44f38313b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6cd6e1c978784eec9032e2fe94a53e62b674fe3e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6e69317cd44a2f21f8f7a9d93eb3220e868adfa8 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7b69729046a4c58f4cb457184e5ac4aaa179bff4 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/adce12bb0e0dc82d1d6f0821c9faee3145e62a6f (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-72290 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-72290 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/7b69729046a4c58f4cb457184e5ac4aaa179bff4 (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)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8917-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8918-1 (opens in a new tab)