CVE-2026-98197

Kernel use-after-free via orphaned fan sysfs files

Published Oct 6, 2026 · Updated Oct 6, 2026

Use-after-free in the w83791d hardware-monitor driver in Linux 2.6.28 allows local users to trigger stale driver-data access via sysfs. During normal unbind, w83791d_remove() removes the main attribute group but leaves the optional fan/PWM 4-5 group attached after its backing data is released. The condition requires a W83791D device with those pins used for fan control, driver unbind, and subsequent access to the lingering files; code execution or privilege escalation is not established.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.12%
Next 30 days · Oct 19, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Get started

Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the w83791d hardware-monitor driver in Linux 2.6.28 allows local users to trigger stale driver-data access via sysfs. During normal unbind, w83791d_remove() removes the main attribute group but leaves the optional fan/PWM 4-5 group attached after its backing data is released. The condition requires a W83791D device with those pins used for fan control, driver unbind, and subsequent access to the lingering files; code execution or privilege escalation is not established.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-98197
Published
Oct 6, 2026
Updated
Oct 6, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 6, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 6, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=2.6.28
  2. Affected versionversion=6e1ecd9b8f1358ed4d099f0c54434240dc40debe <081e3a78453635fb370b1712809d2af29e60b4c5
  3. Affected versionversion=6e1ecd9b8f1358ed4d099f0c54434240dc40debe <0ff9c7775e51ac6d47b1bb5c46f06b1434fe58a8
  4. Affected versionversion=6e1ecd9b8f1358ed4d099f0c54434240dc40debe <2c381e6e0f033f2df13bd64905e7232c42f49009
  5. Affected versionversion=6e1ecd9b8f1358ed4d099f0c54434240dc40debe <2ccf6c512290a288a2d4d7f076430dfb0c6ee476
  6. Affected versionversion=6e1ecd9b8f1358ed4d099f0c54434240dc40debe <2dd37d00f1f1af8e02ffa70ee573c10fd1a76864
  7. Affected versionversion=6e1ecd9b8f1358ed4d099f0c54434240dc40debe <583e04e88e75b8d57304015d83c38e82a9531600
  8. Affected versionversion=6e1ecd9b8f1358ed4d099f0c54434240dc40debe <b1d419eb3bc41245c3d3d99dfe1a7b6c45989586
  9. Affected versionversion=6e1ecd9b8f1358ed4d099f0c54434240dc40debe <f6e2ab72f32d16d71a2549c7ea062dd209f71670

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=2.6.28; version=6e1ecd9b8f1358ed4d099f0c54434240dc40debe <081e3a78453635fb370b1712809d2af29e60b4c5; version=6e1ecd9b8f1358ed4d099f0c54434240dc40debe <0ff9c7775e51ac6d47b1bb5c46f06b1434fe58a8; version=6e1ecd9b8f1358ed4d099f0c54434240dc40debe <2c381e6e0f033f2df13bd64905e7232c42f49009; version=6e1ecd9b8f1358ed4d099f0c54434240dc40debe <2ccf6c512290a288a2d4d7f076430dfb0c6ee476; version=6e1ecd9b8f1358ed4d099f0c54434240dc40debe <2dd37d00f1f1af8e02ffa70ee573c10fd1a76864; version=6e1ecd9b8f1358ed4d099f0c54434240dc40debe <583e04e88e75b8d57304015d83c38e82a9531600; version=6e1ecd9b8f1358ed4d099f0c54434240dc40debe <b1d419eb3bc41245c3d3d99dfe1a7b6c45989586; version=6e1ecd9b8f1358ed4d099f0c54434240dc40debe <f6e2ab72f32d16d71a2549c7ea062dd209f71670

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

No sourced classifications are available.

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Get started to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Get started