CVE-2026-98054: Linux kernel · ASoC: Intel: avs: Fix unbalanced module reference count
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 1% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HExploitation 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 has been implemented in the Linux kernel. Users and administrators should apply the official patches or upgrade to fixed kernel versions to resolve the unbalanced module reference count issue in the ASoC Intel AVS driver. Since this is not a cloud service, manual patching or upgrading is required. Check the vendor or distribution advisories for the exact fixed versions and apply updates accordingly.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel related to the ASoC Intel AVS driver was resolved. The issue involved an unbalanced module reference count in the strace_open() function, where try_module_get() increments the module reference count on success, but if subsequent operations fail, the reference count was not properly decremented. This could lead to resource management issues. The vulnerability has a medium severity rating with a CVSS score of 5.5 and affects specific Linux kernel versions.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-98054 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98054 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3fcf670f023d47e4eb970fb886ee562b5bdfbee7 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d4fa6f94b91137e329ea3f5b360e140b227bb696 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/23ebd4ed5799340f1d2193195c97f61d39aa9899 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/60b396b2aeca303bc468937d2b44a82399f37b3c (opens in a new tab)
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98054 (opens in a new tab)