Persistent traffic-control actions via leaked batch references
Published Oct 6, 2026 · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Reference leak in Linux kernel traffic-control action deletion from 6.8 allows local users to leave actions undeleted through batched RTM_DELACTION requests. The tcf_action_put_many() cleanup stops at the first cleared array slot after a bound action blocks deletion, retaining references on later actions. Triggering the flaw requires local traffic-control configuration access; a later deletion can report success while an unbound action remains in the IDR.
Summary
What happened
Reference leak in Linux kernel traffic-control action deletion from 6.8 allows local users to leave actions undeleted through batched RTM_DELACTION requests. The tcf_action_put_many() cleanup stops at the first cleared array slot after a bound action blocks deletion, retaining references on later actions. Triggering the flaw requires local traffic-control configuration access; a later deletion can report success while an unbound action remains in the IDR.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-98235
- 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
- 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=6.8
- Affected versionversion=a0e947c9ccffe47d45aca793d9e7fe4f4494e381 <1be63e4579af408d596f0f3165faf1a880631d3b
- Affected versionversion=a0e947c9ccffe47d45aca793d9e7fe4f4494e381 <57b477e46ef2df3483f3488cc713c61c4b384aab
- Affected versionversion=a0e947c9ccffe47d45aca793d9e7fe4f4494e381 <6e05e46fa821a5c1b281355f1f622ac76cb6080a
- Affected versionversion=a0e947c9ccffe47d45aca793d9e7fe4f4494e381 <9eaba16f1b6ee19b249e6afd82c27f958d441458
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
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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