CVE-2026-98327Public exploit

Kernel memory exhaustion via unfreed mesh switch state

Published Oct 6, 2026 · Updated Oct 6, 2026

A memory leak in affected Linux kernels allows local users to consume kernel memory by stopping a mesh interface during a pending channel switch. The mac80211 mesh stop path fails to free ifmsh->csa, which ieee80211_mesh_csa_beacon() allocates, and leaves the CSA role and TTL state uncleared. Triggering the leak requires control of mesh interface and channel-switch operations; repeated triggers can deplete kernel memory, while the stale state can disrupt later mesh behavior.

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

A memory leak in affected Linux kernels allows local users to consume kernel memory by stopping a mesh interface during a pending channel switch. The mac80211 mesh stop path fails to free ifmsh->csa, which ieee80211_mesh_csa_beacon() allocates, and leaves the CSA role and TTL state uncleared. Triggering the leak requires control of mesh interface and channel-switch operations; repeated triggers can deplete kernel memory, while the stale state can disrupt later mesh behavior.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-98327
Published
Oct 6, 2026
Updated
Oct 6, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499.004
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=3.13
  2. Affected versionversion=b8456a14e9d2770846fcf74de18ff95b676149a3 <860134b3af77970e006feab7e5decb8c84771c7f
  3. Affected versionversion=b8456a14e9d2770846fcf74de18ff95b676149a3 <aba8dfb45864441199748c33ce3c1c8ca121c8bd
  4. Affected versionversion=b8456a14e9d2770846fcf74de18ff95b676149a3 <ba5bf83a81e8832cb84bb3a2da67512f81f57a02
  5. Affected versionversion=b8456a14e9d2770846fcf74de18ff95b676149a3 <bd3b21145ae2e781daac1bbd19216a63ab4e0cbd

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3.13; version=b8456a14e9d2770846fcf74de18ff95b676149a3 <860134b3af77970e006feab7e5decb8c84771c7f; version=b8456a14e9d2770846fcf74de18ff95b676149a3 <aba8dfb45864441199748c33ce3c1c8ca121c8bd; version=b8456a14e9d2770846fcf74de18ff95b676149a3 <ba5bf83a81e8832cb84bb3a2da67512f81f57a02; version=b8456a14e9d2770846fcf74de18ff95b676149a3 <bd3b21145ae2e781daac1bbd19216a63ab4e0cbd

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

T1499.004Endpoint Denial of Service: Application or System Exploitation

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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