CVE-2026-97949: Linux kernel · configfs: unhash the dentry before dropping the item in rmdir
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 UTC
Rated by Threat Radar · CVSS not yet scored by NVD
- 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.
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 for this vulnerability is available and has been applied in the Linux kernel. Users should update to patched kernel versions that include this fix. Since this is not a cloud service, remediation requires applying the updated kernel. No additional mitigation steps are indicated by the vendor advisory.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's configfs subsystem involving improper handling of dentries during directory removal (rmdir) has been resolved. The issue arises because the dentry remains hashed after simple_rmdir() returns, leading to a use-after-free condition when configfs_symlink() resolves its target without holding a lock. This can cause a kernel slab-use-after-free bug. The fix involves unhashing the dentry before dropping the item to prevent this unsafe window.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-97949 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-97949 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f06c2d26d1999d37e93299db0ecead04ca7d0b9f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5d7cbfb65e47cc71d5d94d87d5d0d1679080f3eb (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/925d8564f1b2d9b46c5ab63b9bc942cea006da9b (opens in a new tab)
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97949 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/446720051d44eebaa81b33969173160057b73a33 (opens in a new tab)