CVE-2026-72461
apparmor: fix refcount leak when updating the sk_ctx
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: apparmor: fix refcount leak when updating the sk_ctx Currently update_sk_ctx() transfers the plabel reference, unfortunately it is also unconditionally put in the caller. Ideally we would make the caller conditionally put the reference based on whether it was transferred but for now just fix the bug by getting a reference.
INFO
Published Date :
Aug. 15, 2026, 6:22 a.m.
Last Modified :
Aug. 17, 2026, 6:19 a.m.
Remotely Exploit :
No
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
- Update the Linux kernel to the latest version.
- Apply the patch for apparmor refcount leak.
- Review kernel memory management practices.
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-2026-72461.
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-72461 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-2026-72461
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-2026-72461 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2026-72461 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 Added CVSS V3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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': '88fec3526e84123997ecebd6bb6778eb4ce779b7', 'lessThan': '045dbe89ac31709abd73390d0805d52fece7ef39', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '88fec3526e84123997ecebd6bb6778eb4ce779b7', 'lessThan': 'b8642f1478982a97ca2eb59f70f631a9de42ae11', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '88fec3526e84123997ecebd6bb6778eb4ce779b7', 'lessThan': '6d25e7b47616cb2db43351210929c8f19dc305a3', 'versionType': 'git'}], 'programFiles': ['security/apparmor/af_unix.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}, {'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '6.17'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '0', 'lessThan': '6.17', 'versionType': 'semver'}, {'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-rc1', 'versionType': 'original_commit_for_fix', 'lessThanOrEqual': '*'}], 'programFiles': ['security/apparmor/af_unix.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'affected'}] [{'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '88fec3526e84123997ecebd6bb6778eb4ce779b7', 'lessThan': '045dbe89ac31709abd73390d0805d52fece7ef39', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '88fec3526e84123997ecebd6bb6778eb4ce779b7', 'lessThan': 'b8642f1478982a97ca2eb59f70f631a9de42ae11', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '88fec3526e84123997ecebd6bb6778eb4ce779b7', 'lessThan': '6d25e7b47616cb2db43351210929c8f19dc305a3', 'versionType': 'git'}], 'programFiles': ['security/apparmor/af_unix.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}, {'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '6.17'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '0', 'lessThan': '6.17', 'versionType': 'semver'}, {'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': ['security/apparmor/af_unix.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': '88fec3526e84123997ecebd6bb6778eb4ce779b7', 'lessThan': '045dbe89ac31709abd73390d0805d52fece7ef39', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '88fec3526e84123997ecebd6bb6778eb4ce779b7', 'lessThan': 'b8642f1478982a97ca2eb59f70f631a9de42ae11', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '88fec3526e84123997ecebd6bb6778eb4ce779b7', 'lessThan': '6d25e7b47616cb2db43351210929c8f19dc305a3', 'versionType': 'git'}], 'programFiles': ['security/apparmor/af_unix.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}, {'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '6.17'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '0', 'lessThan': '6.17', 'versionType': 'semver'}, {'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-rc1', 'versionType': 'original_commit_for_fix', 'lessThanOrEqual': '*'}], 'programFiles': ['security/apparmor/af_unix.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'affected'}] Added Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: apparmor: fix refcount leak when updating the sk_ctx Currently update_sk_ctx() transfers the plabel reference, unfortunately it is also unconditionally put in the caller. Ideally we would make the caller conditionally put the reference based on whether it was transferred but for now just fix the bug by getting a reference. Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/045dbe89ac31709abd73390d0805d52fece7ef39 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6d25e7b47616cb2db43351210929c8f19dc305a3 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b8642f1478982a97ca2eb59f70f631a9de42ae11