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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2026-72463: Linux kernel · xfrm: Fix dev use-after-free in xfrm async resumption

Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5

0

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 9.8 Critical · fixed in fed4d3195a31125566876952ce66113ec1eb9008 : patch Linux kernel as a priority.

Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
9.8Critical
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
EPSS
0.4% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 38% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
Patch
Available – fixed in fed4d3195a31125566876952ce66113ec1eb9008, 8045c0df98d4f14c54e5cb875f1c9c0ce89fe4ff, 63a30015199912bd5055bead8001b1ae68a67cdb +5
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 15 Aug 2026

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponised: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq 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

ProductAffectedFixed in
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • >=6.12.94 <6.12.112
  • >=6.18.23 <6.18.54
  • >=6.6.160 <6.7
  • >=6.19.13 <6.20
Fixed in
  • fed4d3195a31125566876952ce66113ec1eb9008
  • 8045c0df98d4f14c54e5cb875f1c9c0ce89fe4ff
  • 63a30015199912bd5055bead8001b1ae68a67cdb
  • 6.20
  • 6.18.54
  • 6.12.112
  • 6.7
  • 1acd93259b6be269e26be5d71c224bccd1f8352f
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • =7.0
Fixed in–

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xfrm: Fix dev use-after-free in xfrm async resumption xfrm async resumption hold skb->dev refcnt until after transport_finish. However, xfrm_rcv_cb may modify skb->dev to tunnel dev without taking device reference, such as vti_rcv_cb. The subsequent async resumption will decrement the tunnel device's reference count, which lead to uaf of tunnel dev and refcnt leak of orig dev as below: unregister_netdevice: waiting for vti1 to become free. Usage count = -2 Stash the original skb->dev to fix refcnt imbalance. The new skb->dev set by xfrm_rcv_cb can race with device teardown. Extend rcu protection over xfrm_rcv_cb and transport_finish to prevent races.

References

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