Kernel memory corruption via SMB interface refresh race
Published Oct 6, 2026 · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Use-after-free in the Linux SMB client allows context-dependent attackers to trigger a stale-pointer dereference during channel setup. In cifs_try_adding_channels(), the iterator retains an unreferenced interface-list pointer while dropping iface_lock; a concurrent refresh can free that entry before iteration resumes. The race requires channel creation and a simultaneous server-interface refresh; the published record does not establish reliable code execution or data disclosure.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in the Linux SMB client allows context-dependent attackers to trigger a stale-pointer dereference during channel setup. In cifs_try_adding_channels(), the iterator retains an unreferenced interface-list pointer while dropping iface_lock; a concurrent refresh can free that entry before iteration resumes. The race requires channel creation and a simultaneous server-interface refresh; the published record does not establish reliable code execution or data disclosure.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-98173
- Published
- Oct 6, 2026
- Updated
- Oct 6, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- Unavailable
- Attack vector
- Unavailable
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Oct 6, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Oct 6, 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=5.19
- Affected versionversion=aa45dadd34e44fcd6a9df4b395bee5b5633b4cec <c941f1ebfd26f683de81091473f3596a218abff0
- Affected versionversion=aa45dadd34e44fcd6a9df4b395bee5b5633b4cec <d034e836eefd7ce75e588f7031cffbeec594f5ac
- Affected versionversion=aa45dadd34e44fcd6a9df4b395bee5b5633b4cec <e99040e5e9c60441e6b4725e1a7b88c3106ae903
- Affected versionversion=aa45dadd34e44fcd6a9df4b395bee5b5633b4cec <ec36b38e65596950e6c29bed7dfc90b98707c19c
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
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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