CVE-2026-72177 Linux CVE debrief

Who should care

Linux kernel maintainers, Linux distribution maintainers, security teams, and users of Linux kernel who manage or use systems that rely on the Linux kernel should prioritize assessment and remediation of this vulnerability.

Technical summary

The Linux kernel vulnerability in mm/damon/sysfs-schemes allows uninitialized memory dereference and/or memory leak due to incorrect directory put orders in error paths of damon_sysfs_access_pattern_add_dirs() and damon_sysfs_scheme_add_dirs() functions. This issue was discovered by Sashiko. Error paths of damon_sysfs_access_pattern_add_dirs() and damon_sysfs_scheme_add_dirs() functions put references to directories in wrong orders. The allocation failures will not commonly happen, but the consequence is quite bad. Linux kernel maintainers and users should verify directory put orders in error paths and assess potential vulnerability to uninitialized memory dereference and/or memory leak. The issue is caused by incorrect directory put orders in error paths, which can lead to uninitialized memory dereference and/or memory leak.

Defensive priority

Linux kernel maintainers and users should prioritize assessment and remediation of this vulnerability.

Recommended defensive actions

• Assess Linux kernel versions for potential vulnerability to uninitialized memory dereference and/or memory leak.
• Apply patches from Linux kernel maintainers to fix directory put orders in error paths.
• Monitor Linux kernel updates for further remediation guidance.
• Review compensating controls for exposed systems while remediation is scheduled and verified.
• Check relevant monitoring, detection, and logs for exposed assets that need extra review.
• Track exceptions, retest remediated assets, and close the item only after evidence is documented.
• Confirm whether affected product deployments exist in managed environments and assign an owner for follow-up.

Evidence notes

The issue was discovered by Sashiko. Error paths of damon_sysfs_access_pattern_add_dirs() and damon_sysfs_scheme_add_dirs() functions put references to directories in wrong orders. The allocation failures will not commonly happen, but the consequence is quite bad. Linux kernel maintainers and users should verify directory put orders in error paths and assess potential vulnerability to uninitialized memory dereference and/or memory leak.

Official resources