CVE-2026-98281: Linux kernel · futex: Also allocate private hash on vfork()
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 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 has been implemented to allocate a private hash on vfork() and other CLONE_VM users, resolving the vulnerability. Users should upgrade to patched versions of the linux-hwe-edge kernel as listed in the affected versions to mitigate this issue. No additional mitigation steps are indicated beyond applying the official fix.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel futex subsystem related to the handling of private hash allocation on vfork() has been resolved. The issue involves the potential to access the memory management (mm) through vfork(), which requires allocating a private hash for vfork() and other CLONE_VM users to prevent having private futex waiters before the private hash allocation. This vulnerability affects specific versions of the linux-hwe-edge kernel and has a CVSS score of 7.8, indicating a high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-98281 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98281 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/b61b6f95d6722ddbbbd09e689fa41b55fd36f9a5 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5468a4855b63b30156a79e5248e01bf1a2c18dd7 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b61b6f95d6722ddbbbd09e689fa41b55fd36f9a5 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/eecbafa8cabbc4d1482f6a5e2acc25a8f934681b (opens in a new tab)