CVE-2026-72450: Linux kernel · xfrm: validate selector family and prefixlen during match
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 6% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1123.132~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1122.131~20.04.1 +42
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-aws kernel versions. The vendor advisory confirms that the issue is fixed. Users should update to a patched kernel version to remediate this vulnerability.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's xfrm subsystem was resolved, addressing improper validation of selector family and prefix length during matching. The flaw involved a shift-out-of-bounds condition triggered by an AF_UNSPEC selector with a large prefix length matched against an IPv4 flow. The fix includes rejecting mismatched families and validating prefix lengths to prevent overflow and out-of-bounds access.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-72450 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/40f0b1047918539f0b0f795ac65e35336b4c2c78 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5a03a2ee17e8259dde631ed84fd8322db06cb2ae (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6d99379c58f7f1c6ab2cc7aba01a4f52d71adcfe (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/78783fefdc8f36879b1a17efa0d3195ea5f2dc5f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/87a5bbccc7ff4edb3f42fea387124237d2ba91ee (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a3968ad4195d72c8fddcc6c0ef39da95ac98711a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/bd7f202cf77556cff59f68dc30e4cdf40cb6e33b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/efa9e3b9f3dea2e1ea4c7edf4edc863faef85986 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-72450 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-72450 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/40f0b1047918539f0b0f795ac65e35336b4c2c78 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8876-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8878-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8879-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8877-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8875-1 (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)