CVE-2026-72296: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: ife: require ETH_HLEN to be pullable

This month

CRITICAL 9.1REMOTEWATCHLIST

CVE-2026-72296 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.1) affecting affected software. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: ife: require ETH_HLEN to be pullable in ife_decode() ife decode may return after making only the outer IFE header and metadata pullable. The caller then passes the decapsulated packet to eth_type_trans(), which expects the inner Ethernet header to be accessible from the linear data area. With a malformed IFE frame, the inner Ethernet header may still be shorter than ETH_H

Why this priority

Critical severity
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.1 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.7% (top 46%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2026-08-15
Last modified	2026-10-16

Publisher (CNA): kernel.org

Last updated 2026-10-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Timeline

2026-08-15 06:22 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-10-16 19:17 UTCUpdated Record last modified

Exact fixes by distribution

Fedora 46 · rubygem-mechanize · FIXED · 2.14.2-1.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-d2e3b5fc5d · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-d2e3b5fc5d

Fedora ELN · opkssh · FIXED · 0.19.1-1.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-45a9706969 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-45a9706969

Ubuntu 22.04 · linux · FIXED · 5.15.0-198.208

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade linux dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' linux)" ge "5.15.0-198.208" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

Ubuntu 20.04 · linux · NO FIX YET

Ubuntu 24.04 · linux · FIXED · 6.8.0-147.147

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade linux dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' linux)" ge "6.8.0-147.147" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

Ubuntu 20.04 · linux-hwe-5.15 · FIXED · 5.15.0-198.208~20.04.1

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade linux-hwe-5.15 dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' linux-hwe-5.15)" ge "5.15.0-198.208~20.04.1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

Ubuntu 22.04 · linux-hwe-6.8 · NO FIX YET

Debian 12 · linux · FIXED · 6.1.180-1

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade linux dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' linux)" ge "6.1.180-1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

Debian 13 · linux · FIXED · 6.12.100-1

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade linux dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' linux)" ge "6.12.100-1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

RHEL 10 · kernel · NOT AFFECTED

RHEL 6 · kernel · NOT AFFECTED

RHEL 7 · kernel · NOT AFFECTED

RHEL 7 · kernel-rt · NOT AFFECTED

RHEL 8 · kernel · NOT AFFECTED

Amazon Linux 2023 · see advisory · FIXED · ALAS2023-2026-2071 · source

sudo dnf update --advisory=ALAS2023-2026-2071

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2026-72296?

No fixed release is listed yet. Watch the vendor advisory and apply any mitigation shown on this page.

Is CVE-2026-72296 being exploited?

CVE-2026-72296 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2026-72296 affect?

CVE-2026-72296 affects affected software. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.1). In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: ife: require ETH_HLEN to be pullable in ife_decode() ife decode may return after making only the outer IFE header and metadata pullable. The caller then passes the d

How urgent is CVE-2026-72296?

Priority 55/100. Critical severity; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

Software pages

Linux kernel vulnerabilities

References

← Back to latest CVEs