CVE-2026-98378Hinoki check available

Kernel panic via unsettled link reference

Published Oct 9, 2026 · Updated Oct 9, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux BPF link iterator allows local users to crash the kernel by racing link creation with iteration. The bpf_link_get_curr_or_next() function references an ID-zero link before creation finishes; if anon_inode_getfile() fails, creation cleanup frees that link and the iterator later accesses freed memory in bpf_link_put(). Triggering requires access to BPF link iteration and concurrent failed link creation; the reported panic occurred with KASAN panic_on_warn enabled, and the record does not establish privilege escalation.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.16%
Next 30 days · Oct 19, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkAvailable
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the Linux BPF link iterator allows local users to crash the kernel by racing link creation with iteration. The bpf_link_get_curr_or_next() function references an ID-zero link before creation finishes; if anon_inode_getfile() fails, creation cleanup frees that link and the iterator later accesses freed memory in bpf_link_put(). Triggering requires access to BPF link iteration and concurrent failed link creation; the reported panic occurred with KASAN panic_on_warn enabled, and the record does not establish privilege escalation.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-98378
Published
Oct 9, 2026
Updated
Oct 9, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 9, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 9, 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=5.19
  2. Affected versionversion=9f88361273082825d9f0d13a543d49f9fa0d44a8 <50e80e2bb5e2be8515205b9c496b9640ddefa434
  3. Affected versionversion=9f88361273082825d9f0d13a543d49f9fa0d44a8 <68930f8d40ab4c10ca3b019f076136758fd100a8
  4. Affected versionversion=9f88361273082825d9f0d13a543d49f9fa0d44a8 <6e271f093d15d323f42de26f66556af53fa8e19f
  5. Affected versionversion=9f88361273082825d9f0d13a543d49f9fa0d44a8 <798a61edbc436cacdb659927d067368eeb1e30e2
  6. Affected versionversion=9f88361273082825d9f0d13a543d49f9fa0d44a8 <87ce4b53b7436b50fc984f0a6afaf77f68ac5573
  7. Affected versionversion=9f88361273082825d9f0d13a543d49f9fa0d44a8 <c251ed48bd9063cf7de6049421e78b6de989060f

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.19; version=9f88361273082825d9f0d13a543d49f9fa0d44a8 <50e80e2bb5e2be8515205b9c496b9640ddefa434; version=9f88361273082825d9f0d13a543d49f9fa0d44a8 <68930f8d40ab4c10ca3b019f076136758fd100a8; version=9f88361273082825d9f0d13a543d49f9fa0d44a8 <6e271f093d15d323f42de26f66556af53fa8e19f; version=9f88361273082825d9f0d13a543d49f9fa0d44a8 <798a61edbc436cacdb659927d067368eeb1e30e2; version=9f88361273082825d9f0d13a543d49f9fa0d44a8 <87ce4b53b7436b50fc984f0a6afaf77f68ac5573; version=9f88361273082825d9f0d13a543d49f9fa0d44a8 <c251ed48bd9063cf7de6049421e78b6de989060f

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 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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