CVE-2026-72451: Linux kernel · xfrm: Fix xfrm state cache insertion race
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 9.8 Critical · fixed in 6.8.0-147.147 : patch Linux kernel as a priority.
Data as of 28 Oct 2026, 00:59 UTC
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 6.8.0-147.147, 6.8.0-1067.70, 7.0.0-1013.13~24.04.1 +27
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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.
Patches and advisories
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8781-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8816-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8816-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8816-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8816-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8888-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8888-2 (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)
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.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xfrm: Fix xfrm state cache insertion race The xfrm input state cache insertion code checks the validity of the state before acquiring the global xfrm_state_lock. Thus it's possible for someone else to kill the state after it passed the validity check, and then the insertion will add the dead state to the cache. Fix this by moving the validity check inside the lock. This entire function is called on the input path, where BH must be off (e.g., the caller of this function xfrm_input acquires its spinlocks without disabling BH). So there is no need to disable BH here or take the RCU read lock. Remove both and replace them with an assertion that trips if BH is accidentally enabled on some future calling path.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-72451 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-72451 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/ddd3d0132920319ac426e12456013eadbae67e15 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/041859fd55c81ea55e76d051e39b7b79975b8c7d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6dab4dec9a49121d079981ac913569f232c06b06 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a1a3360a0c44b8b5c134db2a9d0667b61c9cf523 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ddd3d0132920319ac426e12456013eadbae67e15 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8781-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8816-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8816-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8816-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8816-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8888-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8888-2 (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)