CVE-2026-97902Public exploit

Persistent block-device lockout via false thaw failure

Published Sep 25, 2026 · Updated Sep 25, 2026

Denial of service in Linux 6.8 allows local users with administrative privileges to leave a block device persistently unmountable. In thaw_super_locked(), freeze_dec() drops a nested freeze reference, but the function wrongly returns -EINVAL while another freezer remains, causing bdev_thaw() to retain bd_fsfreeze_count. Triggering it requires overlapping FIFREEZE and device-mapper or LVM freezing; only destroying the block device or rebooting restores mountability.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.20%
Next 30 days · Oct 19, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Denial of service in Linux 6.8 allows local users with administrative privileges to leave a block device persistently unmountable. In thaw_super_locked(), freeze_dec() drops a nested freeze reference, but the function wrongly returns -EINVAL while another freezer remains, causing bdev_thaw() to retain bd_fsfreeze_count. Triggering it requires overlapping FIFREEZE and device-mapper or LVM freezing; only destroying the block device or rebooting restores mountability.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-97902
Published
Sep 25, 2026
Updated
Sep 25, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 25, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=6.8
  2. Affected versionversion=7366f8b6fc6aa21c4199cb5d337b023df69745b0 <111339816138f042a59778322f941edc26903484
  3. Affected versionversion=7366f8b6fc6aa21c4199cb5d337b023df69745b0 <76e478499913dc1f368aebe85b28b7d1265985ff
  4. Affected versionversion=7366f8b6fc6aa21c4199cb5d337b023df69745b0 <fe967191e5851ea79818c5fe4e781c3882139218
  5. Affected versionversion=7366f8b6fc6aa21c4199cb5d337b023df69745b0 <ff2a694f6613d54ebd77ba72583d4d94446f55bd

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.8; version=7366f8b6fc6aa21c4199cb5d337b023df69745b0 <111339816138f042a59778322f941edc26903484; version=7366f8b6fc6aa21c4199cb5d337b023df69745b0 <76e478499913dc1f368aebe85b28b7d1265985ff; version=7366f8b6fc6aa21c4199cb5d337b023df69745b0 <fe967191e5851ea79818c5fe4e781c3882139218; version=7366f8b6fc6aa21c4199cb5d337b023df69745b0 <ff2a694f6613d54ebd77ba72583d4d94446f55bd

Published CVSS scores

No CVSS assessment is available in this record.

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 22, 2026Sep 28, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 28, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499.004Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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