Oracle has released VirtualBox 7.2.6, the third maintenance update in the 7.2 series of the open-source virtualization software. This version introduces initial support for the upcoming Linux 6.19 kernel and includes numerous stability fixes across Windows, Linux, and macOS hosts and guests. The update addresses crashes, performance issues, and compatibility problems to enhance reliability for users.
On January 28, 2026, Oracle announced the release of VirtualBox 7.2.6, marking the third maintenance update for the 7.2 series. This cross-platform virtualization tool, available for Linux, Solaris, macOS, and Windows, comes over three months after version 7.2.4 and focuses on stability improvements and bug fixes rather than major new features. A key addition is initial support for Linux kernel 6.19, expected on February 8, 2026, along with fixes for Red Hat Enterprise Linux kernels 9.8, 10.1, and 10.2, as well as compatibility enhancements for older kernels like 2.5.52 and below. For newer hardware, it resolves boot issues with older Red Hat guests on AMD Zen 4 systems and shutdown failures on Windows 11 ARM hosts. The Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) sees extensive corrections, including crashes during Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 guest boots, high CPU usage with NAT networking, and Guru Meditation errors on Windows hosts. Nested virtualization problems, such as incorrect VM-execution control checks in VMX, have been fixed, alongside issues preventing VMs from starting on Linux hosts with real-time kernels or via command line. Guest Additions receive significant updates: Linux guests benefit from resolutions for leftover processes after reboot, unstarted user session services on old distributions, abandoned PID files blocking VBoxService, and improved module loading checks. Windows guests address low-memory crashes and installation fixes for 64-bit Windows XP. The graphical user interface improves with better full-screen support in multi-monitor setups, reliable update downloads, proper display of VM lists in the Resource Manager, and correct storage controller lists. On macOS, switching between light and dark modes no longer causes issues. Several features, including the VRDP server, USB smartcard emulation, and disk/VM encryption, have been moved to the open-source base package. Other enhancements include configurable OemTabId via AcpiOemTabId, improved drag-and-drop filename validation, and fixes for BIOS-level iPXE booting and FreeBSD interface names in VBoxManage. Users can download VirtualBox 7.2.6 from the official website, with binaries for various platforms, and are advised to install the latest Extension Pack for full functionality.
