CVE-2026-72218
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: lockd: Plug nlm_file refcount leak on cached nlm_do_fopen() failure The cached-file path in nlm_lookup_file() reaches the found: label unconditionally, even when nlm_do_fopen() fails. At that label *result and file->f_count are updated before the error is returned. The wrappers nlm3svc_lookup_file() and nlm4svc_lookup_file() then bail out of their switch without copying *result back to their caller, so the proc handler's local nlm_file pointer remains NULL and the cleanup path skips nlm_release_file(). The f_count increment is never released, and nlm_traverse_files() can no longer reap the file because its refcount never returns to zero between requests. Short-circuit the cached path so neither *result nor f_count is touched when nlm_do_fopen() fails on a hashed nlm_file.
Affected versions
Linux kernel versions
5.10.220,
5.15
and later are affected. Fixed in
5.10.261,
5.15.212,
6.1.178,
6.6.145,
6.12.97,
6.18.40,
7.1.5,
7.2-rc1
and their respective stable series.
References
8 totalFrequently asked questions
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What is CVE-2026-72218?
CVE-2026-72218 is a unscored severity Linux kernel vulnerability . It affects Linux kernel versions from 5.10.220 onward and has been patched in 5.10.261, 5.15.212, 6.1.178 and others. CVE-2026-72218 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
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Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-72218?
Yes. CVE-2026-72218 has been patched. Fixed versions include 5.10.261, 5.15.212, 6.1.178 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 5.10.220 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.
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Is CVE-2026-72218 actively exploited?
No. CVE-2026-72218 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.