CVE-2026-98116: Linux kernel · ALSA: pcm: Serialize PCM mmap with buffer reallocation to fix page UAF
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in fd137bf8149bc6460f9b7b1fc292025da04cb9ee : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 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.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in fd137bf8149bc6460f9b7b1fc292025da04cb9ee, e6cdd2a0470d64073349a970dc1691433804b271, cbc7ec97601d09b74e05e44470fa6b0bcdabf3f5 +11
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
|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
A fix is available and has been applied in Linux kernel versions 5.15.222, 5.17, 5.18, and later. Users and administrators should upgrade affected Linux kernel versions to these fixed releases or newer to remediate this vulnerability. No additional mitigation is required once the system is updated.
Description
CVE-2026-98116 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the ALSA PCM mmap buffer handling in the Linux kernel. The flaw arises from a race condition where a concurrent mmap operation can occur between buffer reallocation checks and the actual freeing of pages, leading to stale writable mappings of freed pages. This can be exploited locally for privilege escalation. The issue affects multiple Linux kernel versions prior to 5.15.222, 5.17, and 5.18, among others, and has been fixed in these and later versions.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e6cdd2a0470d64073349a970dc1691433804b271 (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/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)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9b110a9dcecc59516c77cb3c0caf1f492f75df2d (opens in a new tab)