CVE-2026-98229: Linux kernel · xfrm: save input state data before secpath resets
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 11:42 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 6% 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 6 Oct 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 for this vulnerability has been implemented in the Linux kernel. Users should update to patched versions of the linux-aws kernel to remediate this issue. Since this is not a cloud service, remediation depends on applying the official kernel updates. Patch status is confirmed by the resolved vulnerability description.
Description
A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's xfrm_input() function was resolved. The issue occurs because the function stores the current xfrm_state in the skb secpath but some input paths reset the secpath before xfrm_input() finishes dereferencing the state, leading to potential dereferencing of freed memory. This affects certain receive callback users such as VTI and XFRM interfaces. The fix involves saving the state protocol on the stack while the state is still valid to avoid post-reset dereferences.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-98229 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98229 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/3cf5cdecd99c9c186a5ea518d93bbf3045b6e3aa (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/148db154066b066616b82c12d373e786eba1f96a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/35de97850987b3d022ed17df5b2577242e746daf (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3cf5cdecd99c9c186a5ea518d93bbf3045b6e3aa (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/537a5ae18b2be70f8eb0aca843682e81a69aab91 (opens in a new tab)