What is CVE-2026-72254?

CVE-2026-72254 is a High severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.5 out of 10, affecting Linux kernel versions from 5.16 onward and patched in 6.6.148, 6.12.101, 6.18.42 and others. CVE-2026-72254 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-72254?

CVE-2026-72254 has a CVSS score of 7.5 out of 10, rated High severity. The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.

Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-72254?

Yes, CVE-2026-72254 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.6.148, 6.12.101, 6.18.42 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 5.16 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

Is CVE-2026-72254 actively exploited?

CVE-2026-72254 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

CVE-2026-72254

High

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nft_fib: reject fib expression on the netdev egress hook A fib expression in a netdev egress base chain dereferences nft_in(pkt), NULL on the transmit path, causing a NULL pointer dereference at eval. nft_fib_validate() masks the hook with NF_INET_* values, but netdev hook numbers are a separate enum that aliases them (NF_NETDEV_EGRESS == NF_INET_LOCAL_IN), so an egress chain passes validation and then faults. Add nft_fib_netdev_validate() that limits each result/flag to the netdev hook where the device it reads exists: the input-device cases (OIF, OIFNAME, ADDRTYPE with F_IIF) to ingress, the output-device case (ADDRTYPE with F_OIF) to egress, ADDRTYPE with no device flag to both. Also restrict nft_fib_validate() to NFPROTO_IPV4/IPV6/INET so its NF_INET_* masks are not applied to another family's hooks.

Package Linux Kernel

Published 2026-08-15

Last modified 2026-08-17

CVSS version 3.1

Patch available

Yes

CVSS 3.1 score

7.5

out of 10

High

Attack Vector

Network

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

None

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

Low

Integrity

None

Availability

High

Vector string

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 5.16 and later are affected. Fixed in 6.6.148, 6.12.101, 6.18.42, 7.1.5, 7.2 and their respective stable series.

Affected from

≥ 5.16

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

References

5 total

Details

CVE ID CVE-2026-72254

Severity High

CVSS score 7.5 / 10

CVSS version 3.1

Published 2026-08-15

Modified 2026-08-17

KEV No

Patch

Yes

Package linux

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2026-72254?

CVE-2026-72254 is a High severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.5 out of 10 . It affects Linux kernel versions from 5.16 onward and has been patched in 6.6.148, 6.12.101, 6.18.42 and others. CVE-2026-72254 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-72254?

CVE-2026-72254 has a CVSS score of 7.5 out of 10, rated High severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.
Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-72254?

Yes. CVE-2026-72254 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.6.148, 6.12.101, 6.18.42 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 5.16 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.
Is CVE-2026-72254 actively exploited?

No. CVE-2026-72254 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.