CVE-2026-98398Public exploit

Kernel warnings via stale lock-class cache reuse

Published Oct 14, 2026 · Updated Oct 14, 2026

Stale-cache reuse in Linux lockdep allows attackers to trigger kernel warnings via lock acquisition after a lock class is invalidated. In kernel/locking/lockdep.c, __lock_acquire() trusts a non-null class_cache entry after zap_class() removes its class, skipping registration and retaining an invalid index or matching a reused slot to an unrelated class. The condition requires lockdep-enabled operation and subsequent acquisition of the affected lock; attacker privileges are undocumented, and the disclosed consequence is incorrect lock validation rather than established code execution or service interruption.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.21%
Next 30 days · Oct 19, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Stale-cache reuse in Linux lockdep allows attackers to trigger kernel warnings via lock acquisition after a lock class is invalidated. In kernel/locking/lockdep.c, __lock_acquire() trusts a non-null class_cache entry after zap_class() removes its class, skipping registration and retaining an invalid index or matching a reused slot to an unrelated class. The condition requires lockdep-enabled operation and subsequent acquisition of the affected lock; attacker privileges are undocumented, and the disclosed consequence is incorrect lock validation rather than established code execution or service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-98398
Published
Oct 14, 2026
Updated
Oct 14, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
Unavailable
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 14, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 14, 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=5.1
  2. Affected versionversion=a0b0fd53e1e67639b303b15939b9c653dbe7a8c4 <02c6be7d675b21d81f0ba3a524346850a8c0e3bf
  3. Affected versionversion=a0b0fd53e1e67639b303b15939b9c653dbe7a8c4 <1c9d664e2e067fca69e5a41d68e23bbc66a583fe
  4. Affected versionversion=a0b0fd53e1e67639b303b15939b9c653dbe7a8c4 <6bc345f6d81ebe22e0f355c2a21d7e29691f9332
  5. Affected versionversion=a0b0fd53e1e67639b303b15939b9c653dbe7a8c4 <baa320fbb2f9fea50f5632a307da8ce84fbef5bd
  6. Affected versionversion=a0b0fd53e1e67639b303b15939b9c653dbe7a8c4 <c7acfb04c7e2e2dea248282b21373d93296644dd
  7. Affected versionversion=a0b0fd53e1e67639b303b15939b9c653dbe7a8c4 <f63c86e9d267629758adaba18579e784ddd63c32
  8. Affected versionversion=a0b0fd53e1e67639b303b15939b9c653dbe7a8c4 <f8a1281ab82df5b51fd0384354d4b21daf2b7af0

What conditions does exploitation require?

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

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.1; version=a0b0fd53e1e67639b303b15939b9c653dbe7a8c4 <02c6be7d675b21d81f0ba3a524346850a8c0e3bf; version=a0b0fd53e1e67639b303b15939b9c653dbe7a8c4 <1c9d664e2e067fca69e5a41d68e23bbc66a583fe; version=a0b0fd53e1e67639b303b15939b9c653dbe7a8c4 <6bc345f6d81ebe22e0f355c2a21d7e29691f9332; version=a0b0fd53e1e67639b303b15939b9c653dbe7a8c4 <baa320fbb2f9fea50f5632a307da8ce84fbef5bd; version=a0b0fd53e1e67639b303b15939b9c653dbe7a8c4 <c7acfb04c7e2e2dea248282b21373d93296644dd; version=a0b0fd53e1e67639b303b15939b9c653dbe7a8c4 <f63c86e9d267629758adaba18579e784ddd63c32; version=a0b0fd53e1e67639b303b15939b9c653dbe7a8c4 <f8a1281ab82df5b51fd0384354d4b21daf2b7af0

Published CVSS scores

No CVSS assessment is available in this record.

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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.

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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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

Public exploit references

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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