CVE-2026-90229: Linux kernel · nvme-apple: Destroy the admin queue on removal
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.4 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 12:55 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 6% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 17 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 is available that properly destroys the admin queue on controller removal, preventing kernel panics. Users should update to a Linux kernel version that includes this patch. Since this is a kernel-level issue, applying the official kernel update from the vendor or distribution is the recommended remediation.
Description
A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's nvme-apple driver was resolved by properly destroying the admin queue on controller removal. The admin queue was allocated but not destroyed, causing timers and workqueues to remain active on freed memory, leading to kernel oops and panic. This issue occurs only when the NVMe controller fails to initialize and is immediately removed. The flaw was fixed by unquiescing and destroying the admin queue before controller uninitialization.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-90229 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/215d1682f0bae495f3f9cf692b358116b7a18602 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5f6f4777b7a8676251139dbfbcdec3cb578f0e40 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/87d5b9864c8118d26f54de4b66d2bddf2c659272 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/bf51e306e3dcffd1a63ef09a7a39d28f3578dd2d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c11685ee4eedc70f738b117a4a8c0fbe84cd79b3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-90229 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-90229 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/87d5b9864c8118d26f54de4b66d2bddf2c659272 (opens in a new tab)