CVE-2026-89970: Linux kernel · nvmet-auth: Synchronize timeout work during SQ teardown
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 9.8 Critical.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.8% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 56% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 16 Sep 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A fix for this vulnerability is available and has been applied in the affected Linux kernel versions. Users should update to the patched kernel versions listed or later to mitigate this issue. Since this is a kernel-level vulnerability, applying the official kernel updates is the recommended remediation.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's nvmet-auth component related to synchronization of timeout work during Submission Queue (SQ) teardown has been resolved. The issue arises because cancel_delayed_work() does not wait for the callback if the work has already started, potentially allowing the queue to be freed or reused while still being accessed. This can lead to use-after-free conditions. The fix introduces a teardown-specific helper to synchronously drain delayed work before freeing authentication state.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-89970 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-89970 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/eaa948c0e19b1bb2d93262207bca0c3d19cc3406 (opens in a new tab)
- msrc.microsoft.com/csaf/vex/2026/msrc_cve-2026-89970.json (opens in a new tab)
- support.microsoft.com/lifecycle (opens in a new tab)
- first.org/cvss (opens in a new tab)