# Ubuntu Linux kernel vulnerabilities enable privilege escalation

Published: 2026-07-24 · Severity: routine
Canonical: https://vorant.io/reports/a142c9fa-3635-5cf4-b223-46f6d20e0423/ubuntu-linux-kernel-vulnerabilities-enable-privilege-escalation

> Multiple Linux kernel flaws in Ubuntu 20.04–26.04 enable privilege escalation, data breach, and denial of service.

CERT-FR has published a security advisory documenting multiple vulnerabilities across the Ubuntu Linux kernel affecting versions 20.04 ESM, 22.04 LTS, 24.04 LTS, 25.10, and 26.04 LTS. These flaws permit privilege escalation, confidentiality breaches, integrity violations, and denial of service attacks. The vulnerabilities span kernel code paths and were patched across seventeen security bulletins (USN-8490-2 through USN-8597-1) released between 17–23 July 2026.

Defenders running affected Ubuntu releases must apply kernel updates from the referenced security notices. The bulletin enumerates over 250 CVEs spanning 2022–2026 allocations, indicating a large backlog of kernel defects addressed in this release cycle. No details on active exploitation are provided, but the breadth and severity range (privilege escalation and data access) warrant prompt patching of internet-facing and critical systems.

## Mentioned in this report

- Vulnerabilities: CVE-2022-49803, CVE-2022-49961, CVE-2022-50073, CVE-2022-50116, CVE-2022-50552, CVE-2023-45896, CVE-2023-52682, CVE-2023-52737, CVE-2023-53545, CVE-2023-53596, CVE-2023-53629, CVE-2024-27389, CVE-2024-35865, CVE-2024-36898, CVE-2024-36922, CVE-2024-41079, CVE-2024-46715, CVE-2024-46770, CVE-2024-47809, CVE-2024-50012, CVE-2024-53221, CVE-2024-56557, CVE-2024-56584, CVE-2024-56657, CVE-2024-56719, CVE-2024-56727, CVE-2025-21709, CVE-2025-21712, CVE-2025-21739, CVE-2025-21863, CVE-2025-22107, CVE-2025-22116, CVE-2025-23141, CVE-2025-37786, CVE-2025-38006, CVE-2025-38105, CVE-2025-38192, CVE-2025-38250, CVE-2025-38426, CVE-2025-38562

Source reporting: https://www.cert.ssi.gouv.fr/avis/CERTFR-2026-AVI-0926

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