CVE-2026-72444: Linux kernel · flow_dissector: check device type before reading ETH_ADDRS
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 2% 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: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
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 fix ensures that Ethernet address reads occur only on devices with Ethernet framing, preventing uninitialized memory reads. Users should update to patched kernel versions as listed in the affectedVersions field. No additional mitigations are indicated by the vendor advisory.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's flow dissector component (CVE-2026-72444) was resolved. The flaw involved unconditional reading of 12 bytes from an Ethernet header in packets, assuming the presence of a valid Ethernet header, which is not always the case, especially for TUN devices in L3 mode. This could lead to reading uninitialized memory and using it as a key in hash table lookups, potentially causing incorrect behavior or security issues. The fix ensures the device type is checked before reading Ethernet addresses, preventing this issue.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-72444 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0fe6455b8e1a22414f39c07bc90a1df12b52ec74 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/594c90b197141944f25991b8314de5c26ee27a7e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/825de39f0c35a112148799b3cbe45af3766c018a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9a65860959db594dfc1820c7fdc09285fb7556bf (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/bf6e8af2c8be77489bedeae9f8a9654cb710e500 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c6d3bcb0f934d4297ac5fa1c8656ae40694fb601 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-72444 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-72444 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/bf6e8af2c8be77489bedeae9f8a9654cb710e500 (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)