CVE-2026-72036

What it is

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/sched: sch_multiq: Replace direct dequeue call with peek and qdisc_dequeue_peeked multiq_dequeue() takes a packet from a band's child with a direct ->dequeue() call after multiq_peek() peeked it. When the child is non-work-conserving the peek stashes the skb in the child's gso_skb, so the direct dequeue returns a different skb and orphans the stash, desyncing the child's qlen/backlog. With a qfq child reached through a peeking parent (e.g. tbf) this re-enters the child on an emptied list and dereferences NULL, panicking the kernel from softirq on ordinary egress. Take the packet through qdisc_dequeue_peeked(), as sch_prio already does and as sch_red and sch_sfb were just fixed to do. The helper is a no-op when the child has no stash, so a work-conserving child is unaffected.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. High risk of data exposure, data tampering, service disruption.

Exploit odds

0.2% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

No patch or advisory is linked yet. Look at mitigations or restrict exposure.

Timeline

1. 2026-08-15 06:21 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-10-19 22:17 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Details

Published

2026-08-15 06:21 UTC

Last modified

2026-10-19 22:17 UTC

Exploit probability

0.2% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-476 · NULL pointer dereference

Record status

Received

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 7.8

Attack vector

Local

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

Low

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High