CVE-2026-98161: Linux kernel · nvdimm: pmem: keep PREFLUSH before data writes
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 12:55 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 has been implemented in the Linux kernel to address this issue by changing the flush handling logic in pmem_submit_bio(). Users should apply the official kernel updates containing this fix. Since this is not a cloud service, remediation requires updating affected Linux kernel versions. Patch status is not explicitly confirmed in the provided data; users should consult their Linux distribution vendor advisories for the official fix and update instructions.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's nvdimm pmem subsystem allowed data writes to proceed after a failed REQ_PREFLUSH flush due to improper error handling in pmem_submit_bio(). This could cause the bio operation to complete successfully despite a failed ordering barrier, potentially leading to data integrity issues. The flaw has been resolved by ensuring the REQ_PREFLUSH flush is run synchronously before copying bio data and completing the bio with the flush error if it fails.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-98161 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98161 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c644a2f8fef5618fcf453c591177700fd07dd024 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/72561ca1ab96f0f0f32737a6171641e05a318538 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/770a90c2127220f0fc194ce909ad4f0842e141cb (opens in a new tab)
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98161 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d34c30bc994328d9cf6749b2e9a32aabd08fd076 (opens in a new tab)