Linux Kernel up to 7.2-rc3 x86 boot early_serial_init integer overflow

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4.2	$0-$5k	0.47+

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2-rc3 and classified as problematic. This affects the function early_serial_init of the component x86 boot. Performing a manipulation results in integer overflow. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-72238. Attacking locally is a requirement. No exploit is available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic has been found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2-rc3. This affects the function early_serial_init of the component x86 boot. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a integer overflow vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-190. The product performs a calculation that can produce an integer overflow or wraparound, when the logic assumes that the resulting value will always be larger than the original value. This can introduce other weaknesses when the calculation is used for resource management or execution control. This is going to have an impact on availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: x86/boot: Validate console=uart8250 baud rate to fix early boot hang When the baud rate is empty, 0, invalid, or overflows to 0 when stored as an int, the system will hang during early boot because of a division by zero in early_serial_init(). Fall back to DEFAULT_BAUD when the resulting baud rate is 0 to prevent an early system hang.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-72238 since 08/09/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. An attack has to be approached locally. The exploitation requires an enhanced level of successful authentication. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

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-rc4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch c1a276a731d02cbb728d0530f327a68728f2d8b0/24fbed0a2a45f5f379ef2b53bd2abe58be1142ad/efa96a22613b86e05cd81229ce0be411c1a4a79a/9a77a7639dfdc3eca417cd37620ce64da79c80c4/b4d05032e9af7137eab8f3af2855073f896ca843/f7c67c97b37c11f2a95c204092fb8159f2779e8f/4dad7e870c7e5178f71b5e1e4f67934b9e8cc207/ffa0aa5b625fe0bed7463ac613f8b06676ff4542 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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• 6.12.89
• 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
• 6.18.9
• 6.18.10
• 6.18.11
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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
• 7.2-rc1
• 7.2-rc2
• 7.2-rc3

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: 4.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.2

VulDB Base Score: 4.4
VulDB Temp Score: 4.2
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: Integer overflow
CWE: CWE-190 / CWE-189
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

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-rc4
Patch: c1a276a731d02cbb728d0530f327a68728f2d8b0/24fbed0a2a45f5f379ef2b53bd2abe58be1142ad/efa96a22613b86e05cd81229ce0be411c1a4a79a/9a77a7639dfdc3eca417cd37620ce64da79c80c4/b4d05032e9af7137eab8f3af2855073f896ca843/f7c67c97b37c11f2a95c204092fb8159f2779e8f/4dad7e870c7e5178f71b5e1e4f67934b9e8cc207/ffa0aa5b625fe0bed7463ac613f8b06676ff4542

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-2026-72238 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-72238
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-390645

Entryinfo

Created: 08/15/2026 13:36
Changes: 08/15/2026 13:36 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Discussion

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