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CVE-2026-72138
xen/gntdev: fix error handling in ioctl
Overview
Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xen/gntdev: fix error handling in ioctl When gntdev_ioctl_map_grant_ref() fails to copy the operation result back to userspace after successfully adding the mapping to the list, the error path returns -EFAULT without releasing the reference acquired by gntdev_alloc_map(). The mapping remains in priv->maps with a refcount of 1, causing a memory leak and a dangling list entry. Additionally, gntdev_add_map() may modify map->index to avoid overlap with existing mappings. Therefore, the index returned to userspace must be obtained after gntdev_add_map() completes. Fix this by holding the mutex across gntdev_add_map(), retrieving the correct index, and copy_to_user(). If copy_to_user() fails, remove the mapping from the list and release the reference while still holding the lock. Fix these issues by properly handling all error cases.

Details
INFO

Published Date :

Aug. 15, 2026, 6:21 a.m.

Last Modified :

Aug. 17, 2026, 6:18 a.m.

Remotely Exploit :

No

Source :

416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Impact
Affected Products

The following products are affected by CVE-2026-72138 vulnerability. Even if cvefeed.io is aware of the exact versions of the products that are affected, the information is not represented in the table below.

ID Vendor Product Action
1 Linux linux_kernel
: Total Affected Vendor : 1 | Products : 1
Solution
Apply kernel updates to fix memory leaks and incorrect index handling.
  • Apply the provided kernel patches.
  • Update the Linux kernel.
  • Verify correct error handling and reference release.
  • Ensure index is retrieved after map addition.
References
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools

Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to CVE-2026-72138.

URL Resource
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/16d3ccdabb8dee9be2cdcd6d3f9a125572ec0454
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/18a693733f7ad004e1ab0466693121ca70cd95dd
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1dd9cb98fe228e017fff9efb33862ff38c741b65
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/311011f8cc206c5af2877b03e3f627ee1b8fe024
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/45ca1afe2fd14c04e37227e79d3f8455831d8408
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/52dc40ef0cfee6ae89b7524967e73f0ba37906d7
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6883269a323609f68f6faa903f8f8ff3d191cec8
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6df926130aee6cab9b5d2e5b7862e49ccac348dc
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration

While CVE identifies specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-72138 is associated with the following CWEs:

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC) stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-72138 weaknesses.

We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).

Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.

The following list is the news that have been mention CVE-2026-72138 vulnerability anywhere in the article.

Results are limited to the first 20 news articles due to potential performance issues.

The following table lists the changes that have been made to the CVE-2026-72138 vulnerability over time.

Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.

  • CVE Modified by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67

    Aug. 17, 2026

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Changed Affected [{'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '68b025c813c2eb41ff25628e3d4952d5185eb1a4', 'lessThan': '52dc40ef0cfee6ae89b7524967e73f0ba37906d7', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '68b025c813c2eb41ff25628e3d4952d5185eb1a4', 'lessThan': '1dd9cb98fe228e017fff9efb33862ff38c741b65', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '68b025c813c2eb41ff25628e3d4952d5185eb1a4', 'lessThan': '6df926130aee6cab9b5d2e5b7862e49ccac348dc', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '68b025c813c2eb41ff25628e3d4952d5185eb1a4', 'lessThan': '311011f8cc206c5af2877b03e3f627ee1b8fe024', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '68b025c813c2eb41ff25628e3d4952d5185eb1a4', 'lessThan': '18a693733f7ad004e1ab0466693121ca70cd95dd', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '68b025c813c2eb41ff25628e3d4952d5185eb1a4', 'lessThan': '16d3ccdabb8dee9be2cdcd6d3f9a125572ec0454', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '68b025c813c2eb41ff25628e3d4952d5185eb1a4', 'lessThan': '6883269a323609f68f6faa903f8f8ff3d191cec8', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '68b025c813c2eb41ff25628e3d4952d5185eb1a4', 'lessThan': '45ca1afe2fd14c04e37227e79d3f8455831d8408', 'versionType': 'git'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/xen/gntdev.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}, {'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '2.6.39'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '0', 'lessThan': '2.6.39', 'versionType': 'semver'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '5.10.261', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '5.10.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '5.15.212', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '5.15.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.1.178', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.1.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.6.145', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.6.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.12.97', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.12.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.18.40', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.18.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.1.5', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '7.1.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.2-rc2', 'versionType': 'original_commit_for_fix', 'lessThanOrEqual': '*'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/xen/gntdev.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'affected'}] [{'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '68b025c813c2eb41ff25628e3d4952d5185eb1a4', 'lessThan': '52dc40ef0cfee6ae89b7524967e73f0ba37906d7', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '68b025c813c2eb41ff25628e3d4952d5185eb1a4', 'lessThan': '1dd9cb98fe228e017fff9efb33862ff38c741b65', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '68b025c813c2eb41ff25628e3d4952d5185eb1a4', 'lessThan': '6df926130aee6cab9b5d2e5b7862e49ccac348dc', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '68b025c813c2eb41ff25628e3d4952d5185eb1a4', 'lessThan': '311011f8cc206c5af2877b03e3f627ee1b8fe024', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '68b025c813c2eb41ff25628e3d4952d5185eb1a4', 'lessThan': '18a693733f7ad004e1ab0466693121ca70cd95dd', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '68b025c813c2eb41ff25628e3d4952d5185eb1a4', 'lessThan': '16d3ccdabb8dee9be2cdcd6d3f9a125572ec0454', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '68b025c813c2eb41ff25628e3d4952d5185eb1a4', 'lessThan': '6883269a323609f68f6faa903f8f8ff3d191cec8', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '68b025c813c2eb41ff25628e3d4952d5185eb1a4', 'lessThan': '45ca1afe2fd14c04e37227e79d3f8455831d8408', 'versionType': 'git'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/xen/gntdev.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}, {'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '2.6.39'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '0', 'lessThan': '2.6.39', 'versionType': 'semver'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '5.10.261', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '5.10.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '5.15.212', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '5.15.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.1.178', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.1.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.6.145', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.6.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.12.97', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.12.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.18.40', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.18.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.1.5', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '7.1.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.2', 'versionType': 'original_commit_for_fix', 'lessThanOrEqual': '*'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/xen/gntdev.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'affected'}]
  • New CVE Received by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67

    Aug. 15, 2026

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added Affected [{'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '68b025c813c2eb41ff25628e3d4952d5185eb1a4', 'lessThan': '52dc40ef0cfee6ae89b7524967e73f0ba37906d7', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '68b025c813c2eb41ff25628e3d4952d5185eb1a4', 'lessThan': '1dd9cb98fe228e017fff9efb33862ff38c741b65', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '68b025c813c2eb41ff25628e3d4952d5185eb1a4', 'lessThan': '6df926130aee6cab9b5d2e5b7862e49ccac348dc', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '68b025c813c2eb41ff25628e3d4952d5185eb1a4', 'lessThan': '311011f8cc206c5af2877b03e3f627ee1b8fe024', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '68b025c813c2eb41ff25628e3d4952d5185eb1a4', 'lessThan': '18a693733f7ad004e1ab0466693121ca70cd95dd', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '68b025c813c2eb41ff25628e3d4952d5185eb1a4', 'lessThan': '16d3ccdabb8dee9be2cdcd6d3f9a125572ec0454', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '68b025c813c2eb41ff25628e3d4952d5185eb1a4', 'lessThan': '6883269a323609f68f6faa903f8f8ff3d191cec8', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '68b025c813c2eb41ff25628e3d4952d5185eb1a4', 'lessThan': '45ca1afe2fd14c04e37227e79d3f8455831d8408', 'versionType': 'git'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/xen/gntdev.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}, {'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '2.6.39'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '0', 'lessThan': '2.6.39', 'versionType': 'semver'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '5.10.261', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '5.10.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '5.15.212', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '5.15.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.1.178', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.1.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.6.145', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.6.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.12.97', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.12.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.18.40', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.18.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.1.5', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '7.1.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.2-rc2', 'versionType': 'original_commit_for_fix', 'lessThanOrEqual': '*'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/xen/gntdev.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'affected'}]
    Added Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xen/gntdev: fix error handling in ioctl When gntdev_ioctl_map_grant_ref() fails to copy the operation result back to userspace after successfully adding the mapping to the list, the error path returns -EFAULT without releasing the reference acquired by gntdev_alloc_map(). The mapping remains in priv->maps with a refcount of 1, causing a memory leak and a dangling list entry. Additionally, gntdev_add_map() may modify map->index to avoid overlap with existing mappings. Therefore, the index returned to userspace must be obtained after gntdev_add_map() completes. Fix this by holding the mutex across gntdev_add_map(), retrieving the correct index, and copy_to_user(). If copy_to_user() fails, remove the mapping from the list and release the reference while still holding the lock. Fix these issues by properly handling all error cases.
    Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/16d3ccdabb8dee9be2cdcd6d3f9a125572ec0454
    Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/18a693733f7ad004e1ab0466693121ca70cd95dd
    Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1dd9cb98fe228e017fff9efb33862ff38c741b65
    Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/311011f8cc206c5af2877b03e3f627ee1b8fe024
    Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/45ca1afe2fd14c04e37227e79d3f8455831d8408
    Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/52dc40ef0cfee6ae89b7524967e73f0ba37906d7
    Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6883269a323609f68f6faa903f8f8ff3d191cec8
    Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6df926130aee6cab9b5d2e5b7862e49ccac348dc
EPSS is a daily estimate of the probability of exploitation activity being observed over the next 30 days. Following chart shows the EPSS score history of the vulnerability.
CVSS
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