CVE-2026-98351

Kernel memory exhaustion via unfreed disconnected-link packets

Published Oct 6, 2026 · Updated Oct 6, 2026

Memory leak in the Linux virt_wifi driver allows attackers to consume kernel memory by sending packets while its simulated link is disconnected. The virt_wifi_start_xmit() function returns a drop status without freeing the packet buffer, although dev_hard_start_xmit() treats that status as consumption. The issue requires an active virt_wifi interface with a disconnected simulated link; repeated transmissions accumulate unreleased packet buffers.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.17%
Next 30 days · Oct 19, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory leak in the Linux virt_wifi driver allows attackers to consume kernel memory by sending packets while its simulated link is disconnected. The virt_wifi_start_xmit() function returns a drop status without freeing the packet buffer, although dev_hard_start_xmit() treats that status as consumption. The issue requires an active virt_wifi interface with a disconnected simulated link; repeated transmissions accumulate unreleased packet buffers.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-98351
Published
Oct 6, 2026
Updated
Oct 6, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
Unavailable
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=5.0
  2. Affected versionversion=c7cdba31ed8b87526db978976392802d3f93110c <36727a702cf8e3399e3da60d0856378f6afcfb34
  3. Affected versionversion=c7cdba31ed8b87526db978976392802d3f93110c <38d3a5df85345f158f78b478b265ca906224454e
  4. Affected versionversion=c7cdba31ed8b87526db978976392802d3f93110c <46371442847a725cc0df3697fea2eba1dd54b82b
  5. Affected versionversion=c7cdba31ed8b87526db978976392802d3f93110c <4f266738af45675faa0e8afee08c6e780afa8b06
  6. Affected versionversion=c7cdba31ed8b87526db978976392802d3f93110c <56469996c10a0240653fc00576b4d33bdfb4cc51
  7. Affected versionversion=c7cdba31ed8b87526db978976392802d3f93110c <d177eca79e1106834bc423d3969a4a2e3987996a
  8. Affected versionversion=c7cdba31ed8b87526db978976392802d3f93110c <ee053ea35c759135460f03d1c574f4ed08de844a
  9. Affected versionversion=c7cdba31ed8b87526db978976392802d3f93110c <f9edf7cf63b96d2b776fca8d258d3c5256e40c8e

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorUnavailable in this record.
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.0; version=c7cdba31ed8b87526db978976392802d3f93110c <36727a702cf8e3399e3da60d0856378f6afcfb34; version=c7cdba31ed8b87526db978976392802d3f93110c <38d3a5df85345f158f78b478b265ca906224454e; version=c7cdba31ed8b87526db978976392802d3f93110c <46371442847a725cc0df3697fea2eba1dd54b82b; version=c7cdba31ed8b87526db978976392802d3f93110c <4f266738af45675faa0e8afee08c6e780afa8b06; version=c7cdba31ed8b87526db978976392802d3f93110c <56469996c10a0240653fc00576b4d33bdfb4cc51; version=c7cdba31ed8b87526db978976392802d3f93110c <d177eca79e1106834bc423d3969a4a2e3987996a; version=c7cdba31ed8b87526db978976392802d3f93110c <ee053ea35c759135460f03d1c574f4ed08de844a; version=c7cdba31ed8b87526db978976392802d3f93110c <f9edf7cf63b96d2b776fca8d258d3c5256e40c8e

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.

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No observations available

Sep 22, 2026Sep 28, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 28, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
VectorUnavailable
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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