Kernel memory corruption via live-device DMA
Published Sep 25, 2026 · Updated Sep 25, 2026
Improper teardown in the Linux virtio-input driver allows context-dependent attackers to corrupt kernel memory after failed device registration. The probe error path clears vi->ready and deletes virtqueues without resetting a device already marked DRIVER_OK, allowing continued DMA into torn-down queues. Reachability requires input_register_device() to fail while the virtio device remains live; the published record identifies no attacker-controlled trigger or more specific final effect.
Summary
What happened
Improper teardown in the Linux virtio-input driver allows context-dependent attackers to corrupt kernel memory after failed device registration. The probe error path clears vi->ready and deletes virtqueues without resetting a device already marked DRIVER_OK, allowing continued DMA into torn-down queues. Reachability requires input_register_device() to fail while the virtio device remains live; the published record identifies no attacker-controlled trigger or more specific final effect.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-97987
- Published
- Sep 25, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 25, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- Unavailable
- 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=271c865161c57cfabca45b93eaa712b19da365bc <668ebfea7ba623450b12fdeaa0d080464d0c0a14
- Affected versionversion=271c865161c57cfabca45b93eaa712b19da365bc <81489b32a21c9360f8750d1fb600155d27452e19
- Affected versionversion=271c865161c57cfabca45b93eaa712b19da365bc <8407da8974326c1ffdfe6a5a9bfc8fed3212bbdf
- Affected versionversion=271c865161c57cfabca45b93eaa712b19da365bc <9a7e107734137f098f9b81e5615aa5a02c5395c7
- Affected versionversion=4.1
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
No sourced classifications are available.
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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