CVE-2026-98251: Linux kernel · openvswitch: avoid reallocating confirmed conntrack labels
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 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 and has been applied to the affected linux-aws kernel versions listed. Users should update to a patched kernel version to remediate this vulnerability. No additional mitigation steps are indicated beyond applying the official fix.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's openvswitch component was resolved that involved unsafe reallocation of confirmed conntrack labels. The issue occurred because confirmed conntrack entries could be read locklessly, and adding a labels extension could cause reallocation and freeing of memory while another CPU was accessing it. The fix ensures that extensions are only added for unconfirmed conntracks, preventing unsafe memory operations.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-98251 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98251 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/3f118c8217c109fd13ca61caa301d72c483897ef (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/05eab8dced6bf4d3009a6eeee16ddac99047dc83 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2e6dd889c325abf23821e1459c3ffef59b7f0009 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3f118c8217c109fd13ca61caa301d72c483897ef (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4371d79ea74407fb992c985b1f94391e35bb8289 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/579d87ec1e1e85729a6cb2c25961e58beb78640c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7ff688aceada1160331a789385ea146f62fbddf7 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8c9fcc6c33950d3db551af664d1fd3d998bfee56 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d16f089bd700f45d720ce989d5495e1dc3be0cf8 (opens in a new tab)