CVE-2026-72116

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: can: bcm: fix stale rx/tx ops after device removal RX: an RX_SETUP update(!) for an existing op skipped can_rx_register() unconditionally, even when a concurrent NETDEV_UNREGISTER had already torn down its registration (op->rx_reg_dev == NULL). This silently did not re-enable frame delivery for that updated filter. bcm_rx_setup() now re-registers in that case, while leaving rx_ops with ifindex = 0 (all CAN devices) which never carry a tracked rx_reg_dev registered as-is. TX: bcm_notify() only handled bo->rx_ops on NETDEV_UNREGISTER, leaving tx_ops with an active cyclic transmission re-arming its hrtimer indefinitely to execute bcm_tx_timeout_handler(). Cancelling the hrtimer prevents the runaway timer and any injection into a later reused ifindex, since nothing else calls bcm_can_tx() for the op until an explicit TX_SETUP update re-arms it. Unlike bcm_rx_unreg(), which clears the tracked rx_reg_dev for rx_ops, the ifindex is intentionally left unchanged for tx_ops. bcm_tx_setup() always rejects ifindex 0, so clearing it would strand the op: neither a later TX_SETUP (bcm_find_op()) nor TX_DELETE (bcm_delete_tx_op()) could ever find it again, since both require an exact ifindex match.

Package Linux Kernel
Published 2026-08-15
Last modified 2026-08-15
Patch available
Yes

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 2.6.25 and later are affected. Fixed in 6.6.148, 6.12.101, 6.18.42, 7.1.5, 7.2-rc4 and their respective stable series.

Affected from
≥ 2.6.25
Fixed in
✓ 6.6.148 6.6.x ✓ 6.12.101 6.12.x ✓ 6.18.42 6.18.x ✓ 7.1.5 7.1.x ✓ 7.2-rc4

Frequently asked questions

  • What is CVE-2026-72116?

    CVE-2026-72116 is a unscored severity Linux kernel vulnerability . It affects Linux kernel versions from 2.6.25 onward and has been patched in 6.6.148, 6.12.101, 6.18.42 and others. CVE-2026-72116 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

  • Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-72116?

    Yes. CVE-2026-72116 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.6.148, 6.12.101, 6.18.42 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 2.6.25 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

  • Is CVE-2026-72116 actively exploited?

    No. CVE-2026-72116 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.