CVE-2026-93241: Linux kernel · memcg: bypass the reclaim and oom killer for dying tasks once oom_reaper is done
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.7 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 13% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:NExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 24 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 has been implemented in the Linux kernel that prevents bypassing the OOM killer for dying tasks, enabling the oom_reaper to reclaim memory asynchronously more effectively. Users should apply the official kernel updates containing this patch to resolve the issue. No additional mitigation is required once the patch is applied.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's memory control group (memcg) subsystem caused processes killed by the out-of-memory (OOM) killer to become stuck in the exit path for extended periods. This occurs when the oom_reaper cannot reclaim memory asynchronously due to contention on the mmap_lock, leading to thousands of threads serialized behind the oom_lock and causing very slow process exit times. A patch was introduced to prevent bypassing the OOM killer for dying tasks, improving exit times significantly.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-93241 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-93241 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d44c3c5986c7a4a5f913a813e18cda08a838f91b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/801bcbdbfd595cc7f0de95f2802b5596c8971315 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6b0d1083364fc8e7cc2f7d1f93ee3ee78f4d52f7 (opens in a new tab)