CVE-2026-98281Public exploit

Local kernel scheduling fault via skipped vfork hash

Published Oct 6, 2026 · Updated Oct 6, 2026

Futex race in the Linux kernel allows local users to trigger invalid kernel scheduling through nested vfork operations and private futex use. The need_futex_hash_allocate_default function excludes vfork from private-hash allocation, allowing private futex waiters to exist before that hash is allocated. The demonstrated failure requires concurrently running processes sharing an address space and a private-hash transition; the published testcase shows a scheduling-while-atomic bug, not privilege escalation.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.14%
Next 30 days · Oct 19, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Futex race in the Linux kernel allows local users to trigger invalid kernel scheduling through nested vfork operations and private futex use. The need_futex_hash_allocate_default function excludes vfork from private-hash allocation, allowing private futex waiters to exist before that hash is allocated. The demonstrated failure requires concurrently running processes sharing an address space and a private-hash transition; the published testcase shows a scheduling-while-atomic bug, not privilege escalation.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-98281
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=1dcd36420af2da5bd59306dba9caf78e3d248b1d <5468a4855b63b30156a79e5248e01bf1a2c18dd7
  2. Affected versionversion=6.18.33 <6.18.54
  3. Affected versionversion=7.0.10 <7.1
  4. Affected versionversion=7.1
  5. Affected versionversion=974ac49a9a068b0591a59f65c63eb06579a13091
  6. Affected versionversion=ee9dce44362b2d8132c32964656ab6dff7dfbc6a <b61b6f95d6722ddbbbd09e689fa41b55fd36f9a5
  7. Affected versionversion=ee9dce44362b2d8132c32964656ab6dff7dfbc6a <eecbafa8cabbc4d1482f6a5e2acc25a8f934681b

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1dcd36420af2da5bd59306dba9caf78e3d248b1d <5468a4855b63b30156a79e5248e01bf1a2c18dd7; version=6.18.33 <6.18.54; version=7.0.10 <7.1; version=7.1; version=974ac49a9a068b0591a59f65c63eb06579a13091; version=ee9dce44362b2d8132c32964656ab6dff7dfbc6a <b61b6f95d6722ddbbbd09e689fa41b55fd36f9a5; version=ee9dce44362b2d8132c32964656ab6dff7dfbc6a <eecbafa8cabbc4d1482f6a5e2acc25a8f934681b

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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

Public exploit references

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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