CVE-2026-72453 regcache: Do not overwrite error code when finalizing cache after error
A Linux kernel bug in regcache initialization can cause NULL pointer dereferences and system crashes when cache population fails.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-72453?
CVE-2026-72453 is a vulnerability in Linux, published on 15 Aug 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
regcache: Do not overwrite error code when finalizing cache after error
During regcache initialization, if an error occurs in the cache_ops->populate callback, and if cache operations include an exit callback, the error code from populate() is overwritten with the return value from exit(). This hides the error condition from the caller of regcache_init(), and can cause NULL pointer dereferences when the regcache is later accessed.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-72453?
How do I fix CVE-2026-72453?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Is CVE-2026-72453 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-72453 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2026-72453, GHSA-cv9g-v92m-34rj, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-72453.