Widespread Linux kernel NFS subsystem bug with CVSS 9.8 causing kernel memory corruption; affects servers and infrastructure across organizations and warrants org-wide attention.
CVE-2026-72472
Linux NFS kernel race causing use-after-free and kernel memory corruption.
Is CVE-2026-72472 being exploited?
Not confirmed. CVE-2026-72472 does not appear in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, which records only exploitation that has been observed and reported publicly. That is evidence of absence of a report, not evidence the flaw is unattacked. EPSS currently estimates a 0.64% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
How severe is CVE-2026-72472?
CVE-2026-72472 is rated Critical with a CVSS score of 9.8. Severity describes how bad exploitation would be, not how likely it is: pair it with exploitation evidence before deciding what to patch first.
Is there a patch for CVE-2026-72472?
Yes. A fix has been recorded for CVE-2026-72472. The vendor advisory is the authority on the exact fixed version — apply it from there rather than from a summary.
What does CVE-2026-72472 affect?
CVE-2026-72472 affects Linux kernel (NFS subsystem), NFS clients, NFS servers, Affected Linux distributions' kernels. Confirm the exact affected versions against the vendor advisory before deciding you are exposed.
What should I do about CVE-2026-72472?
Install vendor kernel security updates and reboot NFS hosts immediately.
Exploitation status reflects CISA's KEV catalog as we last synced it. Check the catalog directly.
NFS lock-list race leads to kernel use-after-free allowing remote kernel memory corruption, DoS, and potential privilege escalation/RCE.
Immediate action required
- affected>= c69899a17ca4836230720e65493942d9582a0424 and < 1cda95bf2e9c0e6b63545b7565fe4a1e474322f4
- affected>= c69899a17ca4836230720e65493942d9582a0424 and < f161ef7b0dd2f51fdb002ba4a4e9bf0ee7409218
- affected>= c69899a17ca4836230720e65493942d9582a0424 and < e68035178e65e2b3aa386ce61202ff33724ae418
- affected>= c69899a17ca4836230720e65493942d9582a0424 and < 4837fb36219e6c08b666bc31a86841bad8526358
- affected4.0
As published in the CVE Program record. A version outside these ranges is not a statement that it is unaffected — vendors sometimes understate a range, and distribution-backported builds carry upstream numbers that do not reflect what was patched into them.