CVE-2026-98234

Kernel-memory exhaustion via unbounded HHF flow limit

Published Oct 6, 2026 · Updated Oct 6, 2026

Denial of service in the Linux HHF queueing discipline allows local users with CAP_NET_ADMIN to exhaust kernel memory via hh_limit. The hhf_change() function accepts an unbounded flow limit, allowing alloc_new_hh() to allocate memory for each new heavy-hitter flow instead of enforcing the intended cap. The attack requires qdisc configuration in a user namespace and sustained spoofed traffic; growing allocations can interrupt service on the affected host.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.18%
Next 30 days · Oct 19, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Denial of service in the Linux HHF queueing discipline allows local users with CAP_NET_ADMIN to exhaust kernel memory via hh_limit. The hhf_change() function accepts an unbounded flow limit, allowing alloc_new_hh() to allocate memory for each new heavy-hitter flow instead of enforcing the intended cap. The attack requires qdisc configuration in a user namespace and sustained spoofed traffic; growing allocations can interrupt service on the affected host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-98234
Published
Oct 6, 2026
Updated
Oct 6, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

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=10239edf86f137ce4c39b62ea9575e8053c549a0 <06d2a101e89063cb0b9b459104db48bdfb0a797d
  2. Affected versionversion=10239edf86f137ce4c39b62ea9575e8053c549a0 <1731ff1d20489afe4cd01b7d16d37f324746ac54
  3. Affected versionversion=10239edf86f137ce4c39b62ea9575e8053c549a0 <2cef2588c995722a901368def30befeef9ae55c6
  4. Affected versionversion=10239edf86f137ce4c39b62ea9575e8053c549a0 <35fd423a5c5132c6f4321f6c4f0a7b4b90af830c
  5. Affected versionversion=10239edf86f137ce4c39b62ea9575e8053c549a0 <7adfd0a42174b85c6bd678858ecd6674f403f336
  6. Affected versionversion=10239edf86f137ce4c39b62ea9575e8053c549a0 <d8e2f1f0263b7c97b222c06070cccf13e0ab7112
  7. Affected versionversion=10239edf86f137ce4c39b62ea9575e8053c549a0 <f3f4a5cb4a6e9b1f1f25d34dfc25f836a1601db4
  8. Affected versionversion=10239edf86f137ce4c39b62ea9575e8053c549a0 <f6547d27ce2093c5627636fb63dd0b7523c466f9
  9. Affected versionversion=3.14

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=10239edf86f137ce4c39b62ea9575e8053c549a0 <06d2a101e89063cb0b9b459104db48bdfb0a797d; version=10239edf86f137ce4c39b62ea9575e8053c549a0 <1731ff1d20489afe4cd01b7d16d37f324746ac54; version=10239edf86f137ce4c39b62ea9575e8053c549a0 <2cef2588c995722a901368def30befeef9ae55c6; version=10239edf86f137ce4c39b62ea9575e8053c549a0 <35fd423a5c5132c6f4321f6c4f0a7b4b90af830c; version=10239edf86f137ce4c39b62ea9575e8053c549a0 <7adfd0a42174b85c6bd678858ecd6674f403f336; version=10239edf86f137ce4c39b62ea9575e8053c549a0 <d8e2f1f0263b7c97b222c06070cccf13e0ab7112; version=10239edf86f137ce4c39b62ea9575e8053c549a0 <f3f4a5cb4a6e9b1f1f25d34dfc25f836a1601db4; version=10239edf86f137ce4c39b62ea9575e8053c549a0 <f6547d27ce2093c5627636fb63dd0b7523c466f9; version=3.14

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499.001Endpoint Denial of Service: OS Exhaustion Flood

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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