CVE-2026-72481: Linux kernel · iio: magnetometer: ak8975: fix potential kernel stack memory leak
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 12:55 UTC
Rated by Threat Radar · CVSS not yet scored by NVD
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 12% 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 +41
Exploitation 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 that adds proper checks on the return value of the i2c_smbus_read_i2c_block_data_or_emulated() function to ensure buffer integrity and error handling. Users should update to a patched Linux kernel version that includes this fix.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's AK8975 magnetometer driver could cause a kernel stack memory leak due to uninitialized bytes in a buffer when a specific I2C read function returns fewer bytes than expected. This issue has been fixed by adding checks on the function's return value to ensure buffer integrity and proper error handling.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-72481 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/12848f4ded022963944c063e09a192549a4dad1e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3d57672119525c59ed73ea21accb001ccbcd6cfd (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8cf346074533356d67a6a6a43a192328ad341f11 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9f920550abacedc7fc3163dea65ac2a7d0b0765d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a9a00d727b7bbc5e913a919530a9dd468935bf95 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a9cf46054f81972f8c0f1dc2a79d2a141999dbce (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b974566803bceb72f0b9b5f1d7270b79ba963766 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/fb27ebf81136e796c7b719303ef6fd7e1ae5d488 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-72481 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-72481 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/a9a00d727b7bbc5e913a919530a9dd468935bf95 (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-8888-2 (opens in a new tab)