CVE-2026-72455: Linux kernel · apparmor: fix uninitialised pointer passed to audit_log_untrustedstring()
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.1 High · fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 12:55 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 5% 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
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/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 fix is available and has been applied in updated Linux kernel versions. Users should update to the patched kernel releases to remediate this vulnerability. No additional mitigation steps are necessary beyond applying the official patch.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's AppArmor subsystem caused an uninitialized pointer to be passed to the audit_log_untrustedstring() function. This bug, introduced by a recent commit, could lead to a kernel page fault and system crash when certain path structures were replaced with a null dentry. The issue has been fixed in updated Linux kernel versions.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-72455 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2791dd42d41e38805572b12116f721c97c4fcc0c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a5c79d44ef19203bd7cf6f3de8ff088112ebff95 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/bcd1b34c21748531a3febaf7440632b89d8deab7 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-72455 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-72455 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/bcd1b34c21748531a3febaf7440632b89d8deab7 (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)