CVE-2026-72438
md/raid10: fix writes_pending and barrier reference leaks on discard failures
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: md/raid10: fix writes_pending and barrier reference leaks on discard failures raid10_make_request() acquires a writes_pending reference with md_write_start() before calling raid10_handle_discard(). Several failure paths in raid10_handle_discard() complete the bio and return without releasing the corresponding reference, causing md_write_end() to be skipped. Call md_write_end() before returning from these failure paths to keep writes_pending accounting balanced. Additionally, discard split allocation failures can occur after wait_barrier() succeeds. Those paths return without calling allow_barrier(), leaking the associated barrier reference. Release the barrier before returning from those paths.
INFO
Published Date :
Aug. 15, 2026, 6:22 a.m.
Last Modified :
Sept. 21, 2026, 2:17 p.m.
Remotely Exploit :
Yes !
Source :
416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
CVSS Scores
| Score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability Score | Impact Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | HIGH | 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 |
Solution
- Ensure md_write_end is called on failure paths.
- Release barrier before returning from discard paths.
- Update the Linux kernel to the resolved version.
- Apply vendor-supplied patches.
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-2026-72438.
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-72438 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-2026-72438
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-2026-72438 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2026-72438 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
Sep. 21, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Affected Affected value modified. <a href="https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/blob/main/cves/2026/72xxx/CVE-2026-72438.json">CVE-2026-72438</a> Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/11b35d1906a7277a3d64afe34224133b44327328 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/393d687131d8aa8c7e4de2cb494438e145d20fc2 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d1324b41dabd26787559efaeb430643c627c1eb0 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fea33968592559a55a3f5a96a6386bebcaf988a8 Removed Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/393d687131d8aa8c7e4de2cb494438e145d20fc2 Removed Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d1324b41dabd26787559efaeb430643c627c1eb0 -
CVE Modified by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Aug. 17, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H Changed Affected [{'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': 'c9aa889b035fca4598ae985a0f0c76ebbb547ad2', 'lessThan': 'd1324b41dabd26787559efaeb430643c627c1eb0', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': 'c9aa889b035fca4598ae985a0f0c76ebbb547ad2', 'lessThan': '393d687131d8aa8c7e4de2cb494438e145d20fc2', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '39db562b3fedb93978a7e42dd216b306740959f8', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '5.15.111', 'lessThan': '5.16', 'versionType': 'semver'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/md/raid10.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}, {'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '5.17'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '0', 'lessThan': '5.17', 'versionType': 'semver'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.1.5', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '7.1.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.2-rc1', 'versionType': 'original_commit_for_fix', 'lessThanOrEqual': '*'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/md/raid10.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'affected'}] [{'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': 'c9aa889b035fca4598ae985a0f0c76ebbb547ad2', 'lessThan': 'd1324b41dabd26787559efaeb430643c627c1eb0', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': 'c9aa889b035fca4598ae985a0f0c76ebbb547ad2', 'lessThan': '393d687131d8aa8c7e4de2cb494438e145d20fc2', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '39db562b3fedb93978a7e42dd216b306740959f8', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '5.15.111', 'lessThan': '5.16', 'versionType': 'semver'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/md/raid10.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}, {'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '5.17'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '0', 'lessThan': '5.17', 'versionType': 'semver'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.1.5', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '7.1.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.2', 'versionType': 'original_commit_for_fix', 'lessThanOrEqual': '*'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/md/raid10.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': 'c9aa889b035fca4598ae985a0f0c76ebbb547ad2', 'lessThan': 'd1324b41dabd26787559efaeb430643c627c1eb0', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': 'c9aa889b035fca4598ae985a0f0c76ebbb547ad2', 'lessThan': '393d687131d8aa8c7e4de2cb494438e145d20fc2', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '39db562b3fedb93978a7e42dd216b306740959f8', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '5.15.111', 'lessThan': '5.16', 'versionType': 'semver'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/md/raid10.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}, {'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '5.17'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '0', 'lessThan': '5.17', 'versionType': 'semver'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.1.5', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '7.1.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.2-rc1', 'versionType': 'original_commit_for_fix', 'lessThanOrEqual': '*'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/md/raid10.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'affected'}] Added Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: md/raid10: fix writes_pending and barrier reference leaks on discard failures raid10_make_request() acquires a writes_pending reference with md_write_start() before calling raid10_handle_discard(). Several failure paths in raid10_handle_discard() complete the bio and return without releasing the corresponding reference, causing md_write_end() to be skipped. Call md_write_end() before returning from these failure paths to keep writes_pending accounting balanced. Additionally, discard split allocation failures can occur after wait_barrier() succeeds. Those paths return without calling allow_barrier(), leaking the associated barrier reference. Release the barrier before returning from those paths. Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/393d687131d8aa8c7e4de2cb494438e145d20fc2 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d1324b41dabd26787559efaeb430643c627c1eb0