CVE-2026-72137: xfrm: nat_keepalive: avoid double free on send error

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2026-72137?

CVE-2026-72137 has a risk score of 34, indicating a moderate severity level.

Q: What is the impact of CVE-2026-72137?

CVE-2026-72137 can lead to a double free vulnerability in the xfrm subsystem of the Linux kernel.

Q: How do I fix CVE-2026-72137?

To fix CVE-2026-72137, update your Linux kernel to the latest version where the vulnerability has been patched.

Q: Which component is affected by CVE-2026-72137?

CVE-2026-72137 specifically affects the xfrm component's nat_keepalive feature in the Linux kernel.

Q: When was CVE-2026-72137 published?

CVE-2026-72137 was published on August 15, 2026.

Published Aug 15, 2026

Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

xfrm: natkeepalive: avoid double free on send error

natkeepalivesend() frees the keepalive skb whenever the IPv4 or IPv6 send helper reports an error.

That cleanup is only correct before the skb is handed to the output path. Once ipbuildandsendpkt() or ip6xmit() takes ownership, the networking stack may already have consumed the skb before returning an error, so freeing it again is unsafe.

Handle the pre-handoff failure cases inside natkeepalivesendipv4() and natkeepalivesendipv6(), where the caller still owns the skb, and keep natkeepalivesend() responsible only for family dispatch and the unsupported-family cleanup path.

Affected Software

131 affected componentsFixes available

Linux Linux kernel

ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.0*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-azure-edge*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-gke-4.15*

ubuntu/linux-gke-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-hwe*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*

ubuntu/linux-oem*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.0*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-gke*

ubuntu/linux-gke-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-intel-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.10*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.6*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-raspi2*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-allwinner-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.17*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.0*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.1*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-aws-7.0<7.0.0-1013.13~24.04.1

7.0.0-1013.13~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-azure-7.0<7.0.0-1017.17~24.04.1

7.0.0-1017.17~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-7.0<7.0.0-1016.16~24.04.1

7.0.0-1016.16~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-7.0<7.0.0-1013.13~24.04.1

7.0.0-1013.13~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-7.0<7.0.0-34.34~24.04.1

7.0.0-34.34~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-7.0<7.0.0-1024.25~24.04.1

7.0.0-1024.25~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-7.0<7.0.0-1012.12~24.04.1

7.0.0-1012.12~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-7.0<7.0.0-34.34.1~24.04.1

7.0.0-34.34.1~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-bluefield*

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.17*

ubuntu/linux<7.0.0-34.34

7.0.0-34.34

ubuntu/linux-aws<7.0.0-1013.13

7.0.0-1013.13

ubuntu/linux-azure<7.0.0-1017.17

7.0.0-1017.17

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<7.0.0-1016.16

7.0.0-1016.16

ubuntu/linux-gcp<7.0.0-1013.13

7.0.0-1013.13

ubuntu/linux-gke<7.0.0-1007.8

7.0.0-1007.8

ubuntu/linux-ibm<7.0.0-1014.14

7.0.0-1014.14

ubuntu/linux-nvidia*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-bos<7.0.0-2022.23

7.0.0-2022.23

ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0<7.0.0-1014.14

7.0.0-1014.14

ubuntu/linux-oracle<7.0.0-1012.12

7.0.0-1012.12

ubuntu/linux-raspi<7.0.0-1020.20

7.0.0-1020.20

ubuntu/linux-realtime<7.0.0-34.34.1

7.0.0-34.34.1

ubuntu/linux-riscv<7.0.0-34.34.1

7.0.0-34.34.1

ubuntu/linux-vmware*

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1013.13~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.16~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1013.13~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-34.34~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1024.25~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1012.12~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-34.34.1~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-34.34
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1013.13
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.16
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1013.13
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1007.8
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-bos to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-2022.23
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1012.12
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1020.20
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-34.34.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-34.34.1
Compensating control
Move pre-handoff skb cleanup into nat_keepalive_send_ipv4() and nat_keepalive_send_ipv6(), where the caller still owns the skb. Keep nat_keepalive_send() limited to family dispatch and cleanup for the unsupported-family path; do not free the skb there when an IPv4 or IPv6 send helper returns an error, because ip_build_and_send_pkt() or ip6_xmit() may already have consumed it.

Event History

Aug 15, 2026

CVE Published

via MITRE·05:53 AM

Data Sourced

via MITRE·05:53 AM

DescriptionSeverity

Data Sourced

via OSV·06:21 AM

DescriptionSeverityAffected Software

Event

via OSV·06:21 AM

Data Sourced

via NVD·06:21 AM

DescriptionSeverity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the severity of CVE-2026-72137?

CVE-2026-72137 has a risk score of 34, indicating a moderate severity level.

What is the impact of CVE-2026-72137?

CVE-2026-72137 can lead to a double free vulnerability in the xfrm subsystem of the Linux kernel.

How do I fix CVE-2026-72137?

To fix CVE-2026-72137, update your Linux kernel to the latest version where the vulnerability has been patched.

Which component is affected by CVE-2026-72137?

CVE-2026-72137 specifically affects the xfrm component's nat_keepalive feature in the Linux kernel.

When was CVE-2026-72137 published?

CVE-2026-72137 was published on August 15, 2026.

CVE-2026-72137: xfrm: nat_keepalive: avoid double free on send error

Affected Software

Remediation

Event History

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the severity of CVE-2026-72137?

What is the impact of CVE-2026-72137?

How do I fix CVE-2026-72137?

Which component is affected by CVE-2026-72137?

When was CVE-2026-72137 published?

Company

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