CVE-2026-98116: Linux kernel · ALSA: pcm: Serialize PCM mmap with buffer reallocation to fix page UAF
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 2% 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: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
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 serializes PCM mmap operations with buffer reallocation to prevent the use-after-free condition. Users should update affected linux-azure kernel versions to the patched releases. Since this is not a cloud service, manual patching is required. No alternative mitigations are indicated.
Description
A use-after-free vulnerability in the ALSA PCM mmap buffer handling in the Linux kernel (linux-azure) has been resolved. The issue arises from a race condition where buffer reallocation and mmap operations are not properly synchronized, leading to stale writable mappings of freed pages. This can be exploited locally for privilege escalation. The vulnerability affects specific linux-azure kernel versions listed and has a CVSS score of 7.8 (high impact).
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-98116 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98116 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9b110a9dcecc59516c77cb3c0caf1f492f75df2d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/cbc7ec97601d09b74e05e44470fa6b0bcdabf3f5 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/fd137bf8149bc6460f9b7b1fc292025da04cb9ee (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8c1882dfee8f404d118020664b73eb4592172226 (opens in a new tab)
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98116 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9857a75714bb5df4781e4d8b1a1753b1e17bf07a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/cbadf2575d25e7dcc0d4da2717817ae569fbc99b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e6cdd2a0470d64073349a970dc1691433804b271 (opens in a new tab)