---
id: CVE-2026-72080
title: 'kernel: fs/resctrl: Fix use-after-free during unmount (CVE-2026-72080)'
summary: >-
  A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's resctrl filesystem. During the unmount
  process, a timing issue can occur where a concurrent reader of an event file
  attempts to access memory that has already been released. This
  'use-after-free' vuln…
severity: medium
cvss: 4.7
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'
cvssSource: vendor
cwe: CWE-416
vendor: Red Hat
product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
affected:
  - enterprise_linux 10
  - enterprise_linux 9
published: '2026-08-15'
updated: '2026-10-26'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-26T11:08:32+00:00'
source: CSAF
sourceUrl: 'https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-72080.json'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-72080.json
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-72080'
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2516674'
  - url: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-72080'
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-72080'
  - url: 'https://kernelcve.org/list/?q=CVE-2026-72080'
  - url: >-
      https://lore.kernel.org/linux-cve-announce/2026081521-CVE-2026-72080-751c@gregkh/T
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7b7bb07efe41bb646a93c4624aa2bb35df190342'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7d330a1d663381579b9d5dafa642b1b3158a0ce2'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/52fce648607e0d6a76eeb443d78708c49df1c554'
tags:
  - csaf
  - vex
  - red-hat
  - cve.org
  - score-dispute
epss: 0.00168
epssPercentile: 0.06138
ssvc:
  exploitation: none
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: total
  timestamp: '2026-10-16T15:51:36.934072Z'
scores:
  vendor: 4.7
  cna: 7.8
ingestedAt: '2026-10-16T17:24:46.877Z'
---

## Overview

A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's resctrl filesystem. During the unmount process, a timing issue can occur where a concurrent reader of an event file attempts to access memory that has already been released. This 'use-after-free' vulnerability allows a local attacker to dereference invalid memory. The most significant consequence is system instability, potentially leading to a denial of service (DoS) where the system becomes unresponsive.

## Vendor advisories

- **Red Hat VEX** · Moderate · affected: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · no fix planned: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · updated 2026-10-26 · [vex](https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-72080.json)

**kernel: fs/resctrl: Fix use-after-free during unmount** — rated Moderate by Red Hat. Released 2026-08-15, updated 2026-10-26.

Affected:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9

No fix planned:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9

Not affected:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8

## Remediation

Fix deferred

Workarounds / mitigations:

- Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options don't meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.