Linux Kernel up to 7.2-rc2 TLS Socket Read tls_sw_read_sock infinite loop

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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Current Exploit Price (≈)
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CTI Interest Score
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6.2$0-$5k1.89+

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.144/6.12.96/6.18.39/7.1.4/7.2-rc2. The affected element is the function tls_sw_read_sock of the component TLS Socket Read. The manipulation results in infinite loop. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2026-72330. The attack can be executed remotely. There is not any exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.144/6.12.96/6.18.39/7.1.4/7.2-rc2. Affected is the function tls_sw_read_sock of the component TLS Socket Read. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a infinite loop vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-835. The product contains an iteration or loop with an exit condition that cannot be reached, i.e., an infinite loop. This is going to have an impact on availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/tls: Consume empty data records in tls_sw_read_sock() A peer may send a zero-length TLS application_data record; TLS 1.3 explicitly permits these as a traffic-analysis countermeasure (RFC 8446, Section 5.1). After decryption such a record has full_len == 0. tls_sw_read_sock() hands it to the read_actor, which has no payload to consume and returns zero. The loop treats a zero return as backpressure (used <= 0), requeues the skb at the head of rx_list, and stops. rx_list is serviced head-first on the next call, so the empty record is dequeued, fails the same way, and is requeued again; every later record on the connection is blocked behind it. tls_sw_recvmsg() does not stall on this: a zero-length data record copies nothing and falls through to consume_skb(). Mirror that in the read_sock() path by recognizing an empty data record before the actor runs, consuming it, and continuing.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-72330 since 08/09/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 08/15/2026). This vulnerability is assigned to T1499 by the MITRE ATT&CK project.

Upgrading to version 6.6.145, 6.12.97, 6.18.40, 7.1.5 or 7.2-rc3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 0867b0f2513ebc1c475af9898c97f4772a68d964/c6b440cf766a557b08d25f1b571b3d57d039686e/e8a4c9fc437b16aef38f86ce3275677e36924259/ebc295ce343600c2d60c1e1e0c5d192080217457/3be28e2c9cd0230cb51fd4967df095273afd3848 is able to eliminate this problem.

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Productinfo

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Version

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.2

VulDB Base Score: 6.5
VulDB Temp Score: 6.2
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Infinite loop
CWE: CWE-835 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

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

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.6.145/6.12.97/6.18.40/7.1.5/7.2-rc3
Patch: 0867b0f2513ebc1c475af9898c97f4772a68d964/c6b440cf766a557b08d25f1b571b3d57d039686e/e8a4c9fc437b16aef38f86ce3275677e36924259/ebc295ce343600c2d60c1e1e0c5d192080217457/3be28e2c9cd0230cb51fd4967df095273afd3848

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-2026-72330 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-72330
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-390726

Entryinfo

Created: 08/15/2026 14:28
Changes: 08/15/2026 14:28 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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