CVE-2026-97901: Linux kernel · genetlink: pin family module during policy dump
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
Rated by Threat Radar · CVSS not yet scored by NVD
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 10% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
Exploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 25 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 pins the target family's module during policy dumps to prevent unloading while a dump is pending. Users should apply the official kernel updates that include this fix. Since this is a kernel-level issue, updating to patched kernel versions is the recommended remediation.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's generic netlink controller allows the target family's module to be unloaded while a policy dump is pending, leading to potential dereferencing of memory from an unloaded module. This issue arises because the module reference is taken for the controller's owner instead of the target family's owner during policy dumps. The flaw has been resolved by properly taking a reference to the target family's module during the dump process.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-97901 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-97901 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6a1094c34d176827b2b173e163dcc964a13af93f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6d8e653fcf1c90310797eeba8e5fafe9ccc3de9e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/508387ad95ef9c13aa6431678c39763e882da2dc (opens in a new tab)
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97901 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6e4d746e55c83c240cffce92356763d16b236af5 (opens in a new tab)