CVE-2026-97941Hinoki check available

Kernel panic via SLAB freelist ABA race

Published Sep 25, 2026 · Updated Sep 25, 2026

A race in the Linux 7.2 SLAB allocator allows local users to corrupt a slab list and trigger a kernel panic during concurrent allocations. __slab_try_return_freelist() trusts a successful cmpxchg after observing a NULL freelist, while __refill_objects_node() can reinsert the slab as another CPU removes it without holding n->list_lock. Concurrent local allocation activity is required; successful triggering corrupts list metadata and causes a fatal kernel panic, with no demonstrated confidentiality or integrity impact.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.15%
Next 30 days · Oct 19, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkAvailable
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Summary

What happened

A race in the Linux 7.2 SLAB allocator allows local users to corrupt a slab list and trigger a kernel panic during concurrent allocations. __slab_try_return_freelist() trusts a successful cmpxchg after observing a NULL freelist, while __refill_objects_node() can reinsert the slab as another CPU removes it without holding n->list_lock. Concurrent local allocation activity is required; successful triggering corrupts list metadata and causes a fatal kernel panic, with no demonstrated confidentiality or integrity impact.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-97941
Published
Sep 25, 2026
Updated
Sep 25, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

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=7.2
  2. Affected versionversion=ba742531260782a2646bc031f9a12cafebc22594 <4a724bcf5d703e18957397914d79156fa2cf1174
  3. Affected versionversion=ba742531260782a2646bc031f9a12cafebc22594 <570a6aaf6b52c6ec098f4811cdb52b1496f13d15

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=7.2; version=ba742531260782a2646bc031f9a12cafebc22594 <4a724bcf5d703e18957397914d79156fa2cf1174; version=ba742531260782a2646bc031f9a12cafebc22594 <570a6aaf6b52c6ec098f4811cdb52b1496f13d15

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
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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