Linux Kernel up to 7.1.4 xfrm_interface xfrmi_changelink privileges management

CVSS Meta Temp Score CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.	Current Exploit Price (≈) Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.	CTI Interest Score Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
8.7	$0-$5k	0.00+

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as very critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 7.1.4. This issue affects the function xfrmi_changelink of the component xfrm_interface. This manipulation causes privileges management. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-72136. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. There is no exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 7.1.4 and classified as very critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function xfrmi_changelink of the component xfrm_interface. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a privileges management vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-269. The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xfrm: xfrm_interface: require CAP_NET_ADMIN in the device netns for changelink xfrmi_changelink() operates on at most two netns, dev_net(dev) and the interface link netns xi->net. They differ once the device is created in or moved to a netns other than the one the request runs in. The rtnl changelink path checks CAP_NET_ADMIN only against dev_net(dev), so a caller privileged there but not in xi->net can rewrite an interface that lives in xi->net. Gate xfrmi_changelink() on rtnl_dev_link_net_capable() at its top, before any attribute is parsed.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-72136 since 08/09/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be launched remotely. Additional levels of successful authentication are needed for exploitation. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 08/15/2026). The attack technique deployed by this issue is T1068 according to MITRE ATT&CK.

Upgrading to version 5.10.261, 5.15.212, 6.1.178, 6.6.145, 6.12.97, 6.18.40, 7.1.5 or 7.2-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 04c1aa57d08471b1953bf27c84ac9b3d78d71831/bdfd1c21d90e628a58a9de79e024cdfcbedfa15c/80ec68bba11f7f387c0e4099c2d7b2c84943eb99/e9c90756f10da334fb31552e52c61f1dba69f491/37b61946d278c7deb0d40ba8f2b6fc0478d61dab/8ca2a19a987a7d1cb4c916ed9723a1c6993b4276/3ba2b2ef7d6a63b190f15cfc2b4ba0fba59928ea/095515d89b19b6cc19dfcdc846f97403ed1ebce3 is able to eliminate this problem.

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Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.10.260
• 5.15.211
• 6.1.177
• 6.6.144
• 6.12.0
• 6.12.1
• 6.12.2
• 6.12.3
• 6.12.4
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• 6.12.90
• 6.12.91
• 6.12.92
• 6.12.93
• 6.12.94
• 6.12.95
• 6.12.96
• 6.18.0
• 6.18.1
• 6.18.2
• 6.18.3
• 6.18.4
• 6.18.5
• 6.18.6
• 6.18.7
• 6.18.8
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• 6.18.33
• 6.18.34
• 6.18.35
• 6.18.36
• 6.18.37
• 6.18.38
• 6.18.39
• 7.1.0
• 7.1.1
• 7.1.2
• 7.1.3
• 7.1.4

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 9.1
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 8.7

VulDB Base Score: 9.1
VulDB Temp Score: 8.7
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Privileges management
CWE: CWE-269 / CWE-266
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.10.261/5.15.212/6.1.178/6.6.145/6.12.97/6.18.40/7.1.5/7.2-rc1
Patch: 04c1aa57d08471b1953bf27c84ac9b3d78d71831/bdfd1c21d90e628a58a9de79e024cdfcbedfa15c/80ec68bba11f7f387c0e4099c2d7b2c84943eb99/e9c90756f10da334fb31552e52c61f1dba69f491/37b61946d278c7deb0d40ba8f2b6fc0478d61dab/8ca2a19a987a7d1cb4c916ed9723a1c6993b4276/3ba2b2ef7d6a63b190f15cfc2b4ba0fba59928ea/095515d89b19b6cc19dfcdc846f97403ed1ebce3

Timelineinfo

08/09/2026 CVE reserved
08/15/2026 +6 days Advisory disclosed
08/15/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
08/15/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-72136 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-72136
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-390559

Entryinfo

Created: 08/15/2026 12:48
Changes: 08/15/2026 12:48 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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Discussion

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