Kernel panic via stale XDP program pointers
Published Oct 9, 2026 · Updated Oct 9, 2026
Use-after-free in Linux veth allows local users to crash the kernel through XDP program changes and receive-channel resizing. The veth_set_channels() path leaves rq->xdp_prog pointing to released program memory on removed receive queues, and expanding the channels later resumes packet processing through that dangling pointer. Triggering requires channel reduction, XDP program detachment or replacement, and subsequent channel expansion; the documented consequence is a kernel panic, not demonstrated privilege escalation.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in Linux veth allows local users to crash the kernel through XDP program changes and receive-channel resizing. The veth_set_channels() path leaves rq->xdp_prog pointing to released program memory on removed receive queues, and expanding the channels later resumes packet processing through that dangling pointer. Triggering requires channel reduction, XDP program detachment or replacement, and subsequent channel expansion; the documented consequence is a kernel panic, not demonstrated privilege escalation.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-98381
- Published
- Oct 9, 2026
- Updated
- Oct 9, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1499.004
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Oct 9, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=4752eeb3d891c27905a8fdf4d80e899c0efd4ec7 <1a5c5b9c64ba5f39dba55da6e12561ca56eeb758
- Affected versionversion=4752eeb3d891c27905a8fdf4d80e899c0efd4ec7 <25bb7c36225220d30f404d7e29d2e052bc5f4b99
- Affected versionversion=4752eeb3d891c27905a8fdf4d80e899c0efd4ec7 <3c10a5dd0d38f506f671dbb59e9d0ee4c72076f9
- Affected versionversion=4752eeb3d891c27905a8fdf4d80e899c0efd4ec7 <43f6b647f209591b1e3f726bb16b8dcba6b95908
- Affected versionversion=4752eeb3d891c27905a8fdf4d80e899c0efd4ec7 <7104a370714346b667712913dc16abf14bbc97ed
- Affected versionversion=4752eeb3d891c27905a8fdf4d80e899c0efd4ec7 <7a8e143109ff2736dc79e41dcd55af7ceab7520a
- Affected versionversion=4752eeb3d891c27905a8fdf4d80e899c0efd4ec7 <f0e8dba8c224981e53c792c6b3dbb7604fb2c2c6
- Affected versionversion=5.15
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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