Kernel warning via conflicting network-device alternative names
Published Sep 25, 2026 · Updated Sep 25, 2026
Improper network namespace cleanup in Linux 5.5 and affected commit ranges allows attackers to trigger a kernel warning. The __dev_change_net_namespace() path rejects a device move when its alternative name conflicts in init_net instead of deleting that name while the source namespace is dying. Reproduction requires devices in root and non-root namespaces with the same alternative name and removal of the non-root namespace; the observed consequence is a warning, not a remote trigger.
Summary
What happened
Improper network namespace cleanup in Linux 5.5 and affected commit ranges allows attackers to trigger a kernel warning. The __dev_change_net_namespace() path rejects a device move when its alternative name conflicts in init_net instead of deleting that name while the source namespace is dying. Reproduction requires devices in root and non-root namespaces with the same alternative name and removal of the non-root namespace; the observed consequence is a warning, not a remote trigger.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-98073
- Published
- Sep 25, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 25, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- Unavailable
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- admin
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=36fbf1e52bd3ff8a5cb604955eedfc9350c2e6cc <a29ea5b5034654aaaa4aadd771f48c01abfd2dfa
- Affected versionversion=36fbf1e52bd3ff8a5cb604955eedfc9350c2e6cc <ac6631843269e6a9b2164e393b7f729328711d78
- Affected versionversion=36fbf1e52bd3ff8a5cb604955eedfc9350c2e6cc <debac3a20dec524a59625cf10fa2f18571127824
- Affected versionversion=5.5
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
- syzbot C reproducer for WARNING in cfg80211_pernet_exitproof of concept · demonstrated
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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