CVE-2026-98130: Linux kernel · sctp: fix a TOCTOU race in SCTP_CMD_TIMER_START
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 8.1 High · fixed in e42ba56281ca3ae2dcb3558bebee9a1c9a4831d9 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.4% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 39% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in e42ba56281ca3ae2dcb3558bebee9a1c9a4831d9, cbf2df9aac4202f9fb0b361a7fe8c79b29fad92c, 2188569e7e1b0bc3f3b557dc97ab7a02befc11c8 +8
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/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 incorporated into Linux kernel versions 4.20, 5.5, 5.7, and later. Users and administrators should upgrade to these fixed versions or later to remediate the vulnerability. Since this is a kernel-level issue, applying the official kernel updates from trusted sources is the recommended mitigation. No additional mitigations are indicated by the vendor advisory.
Description
CVE-2026-98130 is a high-severity use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's SCTP implementation caused by a TOCTOU race condition in the SCTP_CMD_TIMER_START handler. The flaw arises because the timer state is checked before rearming without proper synchronization, potentially leading to an unbalanced association reference count and use-after-free during association teardown. This issue affects multiple Linux kernel versions prior to 4.20, 5.5, 5.7, and specifically version 5.7. The vulnerability has been fixed in Linux kernel versions 4.20, 5.5, 5.7, and others as noted by commit hashes. No known exploits in the wild have been reported.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/cbf2df9aac4202f9fb0b361a7fe8c79b29fad92c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3205a20f837f5b1f009427ac3d9f706bf8a6fbec (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/755d70ca845fd9b87c7b338ae6ae832b08cd0005 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/09e7f9290d63178f56095d5c18fb9f9470153db5 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e42ba56281ca3ae2dcb3558bebee9a1c9a4831d9 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/00b841bac10230c557be6b38efc48508198fe23e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3d698d1e6c8bc41e3e1707777a016f1bdd07842d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2188569e7e1b0bc3f3b557dc97ab7a02befc11c8 (opens in a new tab)