CVE-2026-74720: Linux kernel · bpf: Preserve pointer state for commuted arithmetic
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 12:55 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 2% 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 +27
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 22 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 patch is available and should be applied promptly. The vulnerability is fixed in updated Linux kernel packages as detailed in the Ubuntu security advisory USN-8878-1. Users should update their systems to the patched kernel versions and reboot to apply the fix. No additional mitigation steps are required beyond applying the official update.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's BPF subsystem related to pointer state preservation during commuted arithmetic operations has been resolved. The issue involved improper handling of pointer provenance when scalar values were added to pointers, potentially leading to inconsistent pointer state tracking. This flaw was fixed by preserving the full pointer state using a temporary offset register, ensuring frame numbers and parent identity fields remain consistent. The vulnerability affects multiple specific Linux kernel versions used in Ubuntu and related distributions. A patch is available to address this issue.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-74720 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/29c239f8dbec5ab33a61796724d189bddee6cd4b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8109c25e0c41f5f19a1c2380bb49c991a877494e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/86b203aadc2930e0a4f9c6277b5b80ff3664c472 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8cb23101a3fcc7432b451ea3d0f14a90711f4acf (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a4c6f804b44c5c790269b25e0e61cf4e9f117c86 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d1959028190a7649b926f5867a58de5fe221b23c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/db6382ed3361bdd8129572a3423956cba1dae829 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/eaffa1495e4fe6330aeff9f323ea3d48b01f118a (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-74720 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-74720 (opens in a new tab)
- msrc.microsoft.com/csaf/vex/2026/msrc_cve-2026-74720.json (opens in a new tab)
- support.microsoft.com/lifecycle (opens in a new tab)
- first.org/cvss (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-8886-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8875-2 (opens in a new tab)