CVE-2026-98241: Linux kernel · ipv6: xfrm: use full sockets in local error paths
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High.
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.
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 is available that corrects the socket reference handling in the affected IPv6 XFRM local error paths by using skb_to_full_sk() and properly handling cases where no full socket is attached. Users should apply the official Linux kernel patches for the affected versions. Since this is not a cloud service, remediation depends on updating the affected Linux kernel versions.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's IPv6 XFRM code mishandles socket references in local error paths, leading to potential out-of-bounds reads. This occurs because the code incorrectly assumes skb->sk always points to a full IPv6 socket, which is not guaranteed. The flaw affects specific Linux kernel versions and has a CVSS score of 7.8, indicating a medium severity.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-98241 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98241 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/6973a21ee73c5567f883813c8ef414774b45892f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4c030a0400ebfd2318361c923a88103b2c67c49f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/60459c670329d586a58db5d8f811fa5accfe4862 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/675919e08ce266b8cac11fd9af29170e762a480f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6973a21ee73c5567f883813c8ef414774b45892f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/904a0e827d0d7189271a3a2eb648293809f25efc (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b1a88633c36d2cbc3831382f3846754d344276fd (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c21f3f7fbfeda7c5794f606cb0ffcc2d9001eef8 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ca3d68c3213475b53db6647e159dc73bd1af5ab1 (opens in a new tab)