Linux Kernel up to 7.2-rc3 PCI kvm_s390_gisc_register reference count

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5.2	$0-$5k	0.50-

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2-rc3. It has been classified as problematic. The affected element is the function kvm_s390_gisc_register of the component PCI. This manipulation causes reference count. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2026-72290. The attack may be initiated remotely. There is no available exploit.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2-rc3. It has been declared as problematic. Affected by this vulnerability is the function kvm_s390_gisc_register of the component PCI. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a reference count vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-911. The product uses a reference count to manage a resource, but it does not update or incorrectly updates the reference count. As an impact it is known to affect integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: s390: pci: Fix GISC refcount leak on AIF enable failure kvm_s390_gisc_register() registers the guest ISC before pinning the guest interrupt forwarding pages and allocating the AISB bit. If any of the later setup steps fails, the function unwinds the pinned pages and other local state, but does not unregister the GISC reference. Add the missing kvm_s390_gisc_unregister() to the error unwind path.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-72290 since 08/09/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be launched remotely. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available. The price for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 08/15/2026).

Upgrading to version 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 3882224b0e714f34de91e5f28307c5d3fccfe8f8/6e69317cd44a2f21f8f7a9d93eb3220e868adfa8/6cd6e1c978784eec9032e2fe94a53e62b674fe3e/5fb75c5272950b3ebe8bdee7abfdafd44f38313b/adce12bb0e0dc82d1d6f0821c9faee3145e62a6f/7b69729046a4c58f4cb457184e5ac4aaa179bff4 is able to eliminate this problem.

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Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.1.177
• 6.6.144
• 6.12.0
• 6.12.1
• 6.12.2
• 6.12.3
• 6.12.4
• 6.12.5
• 6.12.6
• 6.12.7
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• 6.12.84
• 6.12.85
• 6.12.86
• 6.12.87
• 6.12.88
• 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
• 6.18.12
• 6.18.13
• 6.18.14
• 6.18.15
• 6.18.16
• 6.18.17
• 6.18.18
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• 6.18.20
• 6.18.21
• 6.18.22
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• 6.18.25
• 6.18.26
• 6.18.27
• 6.18.28
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• 6.18.30
• 6.18.31
• 6.18.32
• 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: 5.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.2

VulDB Base Score: 5.4
VulDB Temp Score: 5.2
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: Reference count
CWE: CWE-911 / CWE-664
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

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 6.1.178/6.6.145/6.12.97/6.18.40/7.1.5/7.2-rc4
Patch: 3882224b0e714f34de91e5f28307c5d3fccfe8f8/6e69317cd44a2f21f8f7a9d93eb3220e868adfa8/6cd6e1c978784eec9032e2fe94a53e62b674fe3e/5fb75c5272950b3ebe8bdee7abfdafd44f38313b/adce12bb0e0dc82d1d6f0821c9faee3145e62a6f/7b69729046a4c58f4cb457184e5ac4aaa179bff4

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-2026-72290 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-72290
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-390913

Entryinfo

Created: 08/15/2026 16:14
Changes: 08/15/2026 16:14 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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