CVE-2026-98231

Kernel use-after-free via unsynchronized XFRM state cleanup

Published Oct 6, 2026 · Updated Oct 6, 2026

Use-after-free in Linux kernel XFRM device-state cleanup allows attackers to trigger a kernel memory-safety fault during device teardown. The deferred-device pass in xfrm_dev_state_flush() releases the device-GC lock before calling xfrm_dev_state_free(), allowing the state-GC worker to free the same state first. The demonstrated race requires an offloaded XFRM state and concurrent network-device cleanup; the published report does not establish remote reachability or a reliable crash.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.20%
Next 30 days · Oct 19, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in Linux kernel XFRM device-state cleanup allows attackers to trigger a kernel memory-safety fault during device teardown. The deferred-device pass in xfrm_dev_state_flush() releases the device-GC lock before calling xfrm_dev_state_free(), allowing the state-GC worker to free the same state first. The demonstrated race requires an offloaded XFRM state and concurrent network-device cleanup; the published report does not establish remote reachability or a reliable crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-98231
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

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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=07b87f9eea0c30675084d50c82532d20168da009 <39e41af3653ee45c985190dd97426f318918d201
  2. Affected versionversion=07b87f9eea0c30675084d50c82532d20168da009 <75fc4561772e2f9811abf39ed10443e6f4a4bc6c
  3. Affected versionversion=07b87f9eea0c30675084d50c82532d20168da009 <84e378395494963b1e581cf223a7cbeec8c0e2d6
  4. Affected versionversion=07b87f9eea0c30675084d50c82532d20168da009 <89fefad9f971bc637fb22373078144f2563c4be9
  5. Affected versionversion=6.10.3 <6.11
  6. Affected versionversion=6.11
  7. Affected versionversion=6.6.44 <6.6.158
  8. Affected versionversion=8ecee44464a4926c9bef989a1490b7394785f584
  9. Affected versionversion=d5f53edd43daf3e6e1633a49c561387f8f99e13f <937108dc0258d6ac69926b00bc53598c98986ee1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=07b87f9eea0c30675084d50c82532d20168da009 <39e41af3653ee45c985190dd97426f318918d201; version=07b87f9eea0c30675084d50c82532d20168da009 <75fc4561772e2f9811abf39ed10443e6f4a4bc6c; version=07b87f9eea0c30675084d50c82532d20168da009 <84e378395494963b1e581cf223a7cbeec8c0e2d6; version=07b87f9eea0c30675084d50c82532d20168da009 <89fefad9f971bc637fb22373078144f2563c4be9; version=6.10.3 <6.11; version=6.11; version=6.6.44 <6.6.158; version=8ecee44464a4926c9bef989a1490b7394785f584; version=d5f53edd43daf3e6e1633a49c561387f8f99e13f <937108dc0258d6ac69926b00bc53598c98986ee1

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

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Your stack

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