CVE-2026-98747Public exploitHinoki check available

Kernel crash via unchecked serial-port pointer

Published Oct 18, 2026 · Updated Oct 18, 2026

A null-pointer dereference in Linux serial-core teardown allows local users with root privileges to crash the kernel via device unbinding. serial_core_unregister_port() passes an unchecked port->port_dev to serial_core_get_ctrl_dev(), which dereferences it even when teardown or failed registration has left it null. The documented trigger requires privileged serial-device unbinding after a failed port re-registration; the demonstrated consequence is a kernel oops, not privilege escalation.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.15%
Next 30 days · Oct 19, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkAvailable
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Summary

What happened

A null-pointer dereference in Linux serial-core teardown allows local users with root privileges to crash the kernel via device unbinding. serial_core_unregister_port() passes an unchecked port->port_dev to serial_core_get_ctrl_dev(), which dereferences it even when teardown or failed registration has left it null. The documented trigger requires privileged serial-device unbinding after a failed port re-registration; the demonstrated consequence is a kernel oops, not privilege escalation.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-98747
Published
Oct 18, 2026
Updated
Oct 18, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

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=6.5
  2. Affected versionversion=84a9582fd203063cd4d301204971ff2cd8327f1a <499485a67fbacf4d9afbdb43522388c64f853428
  3. Affected versionversion=84a9582fd203063cd4d301204971ff2cd8327f1a <54abbb862366dcaf1f22f1e968358147b7d0547d

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.5; version=84a9582fd203063cd4d301204971ff2cd8327f1a <499485a67fbacf4d9afbdb43522388c64f853428; version=84a9582fd203063cd4d301204971ff2cd8327f1a <54abbb862366dcaf1f22f1e968358147b7d0547d

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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

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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