CVE-2026-72502: Linux kernel · 0xFFFF
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.5 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
- 0.7% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 53% 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:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/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
An official fix is available and has been applied in updated linux-azure kernel versions. Users should upgrade to patched versions to remediate this issue. No additional mitigation steps are required beyond applying the vendor-provided updates.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's TCP IPv6 implementation allowed the maximum segment size (MSS) to be set to 65535, a value that conflicted with an internal kernel magic value (GSO_BY_FRAGS). This caused a NULL pointer dereference in skb_segment() when processing TCP packets, leading to a denial of service (system crash). The issue was fixed by clamping the MSS to 65534 to avoid this conflict.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-72502 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/21f69ac1879bb970588d5e7c12a96e6542f7c1a7 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2bf43d0e2e6a27d52a7d624e2d6b9116972e8a22 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/560b33b434e922ef97f9ff23aa2e909ef7aacd5c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/572fff10819dfc359298d1f774839e76a4d96f93 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8e6214a530c03e341dc1b0a846c8f2b716b3551a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a210791f33345aa87187f7d7a9f3b9b7f4a28e6d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c0db3dc2ac323b6c4b76adede3b355a9daa6dea8 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d774cdbda6634a78d0f2baf201ee5a8c57f3bc0e (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-72502 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-72502 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/2bf43d0e2e6a27d52a7d624e2d6b9116972e8a22 (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)