Kernel memory corruption via controller-list allocation race
Published Oct 18, 2026 · Updated Oct 18, 2026
A race in Linux Bluetooth management allows local users to corrupt kernel memory via unconfigured-controller list requests. In read_unconf_index_list(), controller flags change between counting and filling, leaving an undersized response for writes to rp->index[]. Reachability requires local management access, documented as requiring CAP_NET_ADMIN, concurrent with asynchronous controller setup; code execution and privilege escalation are not established.
Summary
What happened
A race in Linux Bluetooth management allows local users to corrupt kernel memory via unconfigured-controller list requests. In read_unconf_index_list(), controller flags change between counting and filling, leaving an undersized response for writes to rp->index[]. Reachability requires local management access, documented as requiring CAP_NET_ADMIN, concurrent with asynchronous controller setup; code execution and privilege escalation are not established.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-98456
- Published
- Oct 18, 2026
- Updated
- Oct 18, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- Unavailable
- Attack vector
- Unavailable
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Oct 18, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Oct 18, 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=3.17
- Affected versionversion=73d1df2a7a1036a1f000e5f0ece6ade3e082b854 <2e8bba0360d1379bfa8da47c8f5dadbb10a3fba1
- Affected versionversion=73d1df2a7a1036a1f000e5f0ece6ade3e082b854 <416546cd6a54e9b68f2b91bc680b1ee17dcd77a1
- Affected versionversion=73d1df2a7a1036a1f000e5f0ece6ade3e082b854 <524e0450dd9a396f99a81b045219b0e2ea0dab57
- Affected versionversion=73d1df2a7a1036a1f000e5f0ece6ade3e082b854 <8ddf962c76432a10a6cb80042875cbc48a9c056b
- Affected versionversion=73d1df2a7a1036a1f000e5f0ece6ade3e082b854 <b5dbb41b212c50c095a4dbee3017a84fe94f033b
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
No sourced classifications are available.
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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