CVE-2026-98488

CPU hang via unchecked transmit-consumer index

Published Oct 18, 2026 · Updated Oct 18, 2026

An infinite loop in Linux's atl1e driver allows attackers to hang a CPU when a PCIe link or MAC reset yields an invalid index. The atl1e_clean_tx_irq routine reads hw_next_to_clean without checking the transmit-ring bounds, then loops toward a value the software index cannot reach. Affected systems must use the Atheros L1E Ethernet driver; attacker control over the reset is not established, and the documented consequence is a CPU soft lockup.

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

An infinite loop in Linux's atl1e driver allows attackers to hang a CPU when a PCIe link or MAC reset yields an invalid index. The atl1e_clean_tx_irq routine reads hw_next_to_clean without checking the transmit-ring bounds, then loops toward a value the software index cannot reach. Affected systems must use the Atheros L1E Ethernet driver; attacker control over the reset is not established, and the documented consequence is a CPU soft lockup.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-98488
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

  1. Oct 18, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=2.6.27
  2. Affected versionversion=a6a5325239c20202e18e21e94291bccc659fbf9e <1d8c85359b5075c7937925b673add7ed00e57ec8
  3. Affected versionversion=a6a5325239c20202e18e21e94291bccc659fbf9e <34bc747a61bef572244b01b095552b629cd8d2a2
  4. Affected versionversion=a6a5325239c20202e18e21e94291bccc659fbf9e <374bf9e4b90f979e052332c4faca2d745c491a12
  5. Affected versionversion=a6a5325239c20202e18e21e94291bccc659fbf9e <3a7d9271b37c80fb7db04aff3bc5621cfdaf9bee
  6. Affected versionversion=a6a5325239c20202e18e21e94291bccc659fbf9e <4b7161804d8f31227551901f93947bb4eea4690b
  7. Affected versionversion=a6a5325239c20202e18e21e94291bccc659fbf9e <4bbb44075bd3e773d61706882ab923ece8b3b519
  8. Affected versionversion=a6a5325239c20202e18e21e94291bccc659fbf9e <a277422d194c62daa1b961f5f739689e53fe7301
  9. Affected versionversion=a6a5325239c20202e18e21e94291bccc659fbf9e <ca862b1a4af7eac19429ca7ab92625f94ff4a46c

What conditions does exploitation require?

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

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=2.6.27; version=a6a5325239c20202e18e21e94291bccc659fbf9e <1d8c85359b5075c7937925b673add7ed00e57ec8; version=a6a5325239c20202e18e21e94291bccc659fbf9e <34bc747a61bef572244b01b095552b629cd8d2a2; version=a6a5325239c20202e18e21e94291bccc659fbf9e <374bf9e4b90f979e052332c4faca2d745c491a12; version=a6a5325239c20202e18e21e94291bccc659fbf9e <3a7d9271b37c80fb7db04aff3bc5621cfdaf9bee; version=a6a5325239c20202e18e21e94291bccc659fbf9e <4b7161804d8f31227551901f93947bb4eea4690b; version=a6a5325239c20202e18e21e94291bccc659fbf9e <4bbb44075bd3e773d61706882ab923ece8b3b519; version=a6a5325239c20202e18e21e94291bccc659fbf9e <a277422d194c62daa1b961f5f739689e53fe7301; version=a6a5325239c20202e18e21e94291bccc659fbf9e <ca862b1a4af7eac19429ca7ab92625f94ff4a46c

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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Your stack

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