Kernel panic via freed NVMe context list entry
Published Sep 25, 2026 · Updated Sep 25, 2026
Use-after-free in the qla2xxx NVMe-FC path in Linux 6.6 allows attackers to trigger a kernel panic through a failed LS response. The qla_nvme_xmt_ls_rsp() error path frees a uctx object without first unlinking it from fcport->unsol_ctx_head, leaving a stale list node. Reachability requires the qla2xxx NVMe-FC unsolicited-LS path and a response failure; later list operations can corrupt memory or panic the kernel.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in the qla2xxx NVMe-FC path in Linux 6.6 allows attackers to trigger a kernel panic through a failed LS response. The qla_nvme_xmt_ls_rsp() error path frees a uctx object without first unlinking it from fcport->unsol_ctx_head, leaving a stale list node. Reachability requires the qla2xxx NVMe-FC unsolicited-LS path and a response failure; later list operations can corrupt memory or panic the kernel.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-97528
- Published
- Sep 25, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 25, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1499
- Attack vector
- Unavailable
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 25, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Sep 25, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=6.6
- Affected versionversion=875386b98857822b77ac7f95bdf367b70af5b78c <a95fc5f1c12bba1dbff72bd2611e7fad0758831b
- Affected versionversion=875386b98857822b77ac7f95bdf367b70af5b78c <c55d649a6cc246c3ccd5d118faea230c46b60f35
- Affected versionversion=875386b98857822b77ac7f95bdf367b70af5b78c <e46160a5d4fa59bf4d5f3412b6b5cb79edb967dd
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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