CVE-2026-98073: Linux kernel · net: Remove conflicting altnames for dying netns in __dev_change_net_namespace().
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in debac3a20dec524a59625cf10fa2f18571127824 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 20:20 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 5% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in debac3a20dec524a59625cf10fa2f18571127824, ac6631843269e6a9b2164e393b7f729328711d78, a29ea5b5034654aaaa4aadd771f48c01abfd2dfa +2
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
A fix is available in the Linux kernel as indicated by multiple fixed commits. Users should update their Linux kernel to a version that includes these fixes to mitigate the vulnerability. Since this is a Linux kernel vulnerability, applying the official kernel patches or upgrading to a fixed kernel version is the recommended remediation.
Description
CVE-2026-98073 is a high-severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel affecting version 5.5. It involves conflicting alternative names (altnames) for network devices when changing network namespaces, which can cause warnings and potential instability during namespace cleanup. The issue arises when devices in different network namespaces share the same altname, leading to conflicts when a non-root namespace is removed. The vulnerability has been addressed by removing conflicting altnames for dying network namespaces in the __dev_change_net_namespace() function.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/54772bf503dd0e81e8b8db537fee6946de81e717 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/119ac1716705af17fb74b3e33058a938a87eecd4 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a29ea5b5034654aaaa4aadd771f48c01abfd2dfa (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ac6631843269e6a9b2164e393b7f729328711d78 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/debac3a20dec524a59625cf10fa2f18571127824 (opens in a new tab)