CVE-2026-72057 — net/sched: act_ct: preserve tc_skb_cb across defragmentation
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/sched: act_ct: preserve tc_skb_cb across defragmentation tcf_ct_handle_fragments() calls nf_ct_handle_fragments() without saving and restoring skb->cb. The defrag helper clears IPCB/IP6CB, which aliases the tc_skb_cb/qdisc_skb_cb control buffer. Fragmented traffic through act_ct therefore loses qdisc metadata such as pkt_segs and can trigger WARN_ON_ONCE() in qdisc_pkt_segs() when panic_on_warn is enabled. Save and restore the full tc_skb_cb around nf_ct_handle_fragments(), matching the pattern used by ovs_ct_handle_fragments().
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- Technical severity (high)+6
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
No fix documented by the sources we poll. That does not mean none exists: check the vendor advisory.
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Linux Linux).
- The attack is network-based and needs no privileges: restrict exposure (ACLs, VPN, WAF) until patched.
- No fix documented in the sources: reduce exposure and monitor the vendor advisory.
- Search available logs for exploit probes, errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux |
≥ 0d76daf2013ce1da20eab5e26bd81d983e1c18fb and < fb080b6f54835d5d4d11ce3122800e6f0f6689e6≥ ec624fe740b416fb68d536b37fb8eef46f90b5c2 and < 67d6b00a54446c008f52cf70fc0c2ad0c712f85d≥ ec624fe740b416fb68d536b37fb8eef46f90b5c2 and < 2400c4b05d58834b994500a9eec90a37db44187c≥ ec624fe740b416fb68d536b37fb8eef46f90b5c2 and < 5c3ae5f6c7c6de73ea9b6a75154fe4ed343e1bac≥ ec624fe740b416fb68d536b37fb8eef46f90b5c2 and < b3d835407846134b0d54637c0281b39bebef831d≥ ec624fe740b416fb68d536b37fb8eef46f90b5c2 and < f7f45ceb855d9ba1cba594fb3f383255f7013fad≥ ec624fe740b416fb68d536b37fb8eef46f90b5c2 and < 9092e15defbe6c7bc241c306093ca9d358a578e7≥ 5.15.13 and < 5.15.217 and 1 moreversion 5.16 |
Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.2 | CVSS 3.1 | High | 3.9 | 4.2 | 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 8.2 | CVSS 3.1 | High | — | — | Linux via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H (score shown at the top: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67) Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Prioritize edge telemetry for the network-reachable component (proxy, WAF, IDS/IPS).
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Affected products added · linux/linux
- Record published
- CVSS changed · 8.2
- Source status changed · → Received
- Record created in this database
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 15, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026
References
7 on the record
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9092e15defbe6c7bc241c306093ca9d358a578e7
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b3d835407846134b0d54637c0281b39bebef831d
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/fb080b6f54835d5d4d11ce3122800e6f0f6689e6
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f7f45ceb855d9ba1cba594fb3f383255f7013fad
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2400c4b05d58834b994500a9eec90a37db44187c
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5c3ae5f6c7c6de73ea9b6a75154fe4ed343e1bac
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/67d6b00a54446c008f52cf70fc0c2ad0c712f85d
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Critical CVE-2026-99999 ipv4: validate checksum_start before completing checksum 11h
- Unknown CVE-2026-98432 ipv4: free inet_opt and ireq_opt after an RCU grace period 11h
- Unknown CVE-2026-98424 wifi: cfg80211: undo netns switch if renaming the wiphy fails 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98425 wifi: mac80211: don't warn when an IBSS has no channel to scan 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98426 wifi: mwifiex: fix IRQ leak using wrong index in MSI-X error path 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98427 net/sched: codel: bound the dropping loop per dequeue call 1d
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No FIRST EPSS score.
- No fixed version, patch or mitigation documented.
- No CISA SSVC assessment.
- No CWE classification.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2026-72057 is "net/sched: act_ct: preserve tc_skb_cb across defragmentation", rated High. It affects Linux (Linux); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. CVSS 8.2 describes technical severity. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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