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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2026-98368: Linux kernel · esp: downgrade zerocopy managed frags before mutating skb frags

Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5

0

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in f89416eb3db151170a6f3c6dfc5239d26cdce4d2 : patch Linux kernel soon.

Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
7.8High
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
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.
Patch
Available – fixed in f89416eb3db151170a6f3c6dfc5239d26cdce4d2, 6508304ac2c8cdafca2f4ab915df8c707893e134, 2359264f377cdbdef2d95868cc8fb572949e48d3 +3
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 6 Oct 2026

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponised: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq 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

Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.

Affected software

ProductAffectedFixed in
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 753f1ca4e1e50248a1b760c9774d6d6b354562cc, < f89416eb3db151170a6f3c6dfc5239d26cdce4d2
Fixed in
  • f89416eb3db151170a6f3c6dfc5239d26cdce4d2
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 753f1ca4e1e50248a1b760c9774d6d6b354562cc, < 6508304ac2c8cdafca2f4ab915df8c707893e134
Fixed in
  • 6508304ac2c8cdafca2f4ab915df8c707893e134
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 753f1ca4e1e50248a1b760c9774d6d6b354562cc, < 2359264f377cdbdef2d95868cc8fb572949e48d3
Fixed in
  • 2359264f377cdbdef2d95868cc8fb572949e48d3
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 753f1ca4e1e50248a1b760c9774d6d6b354562cc, < 69a768c12398cada8528080332c822623fa7064d
Fixed in
  • 69a768c12398cada8528080332c822623fa7064d
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 753f1ca4e1e50248a1b760c9774d6d6b354562cc, < 6cab554f2c0f28773f712ed3a5479103f42ce844
Fixed in
  • 6cab554f2c0f28773f712ed3a5479103f42ce844
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 753f1ca4e1e50248a1b760c9774d6d6b354562cc, < 0d0845ee61c5df47cc68bc446501f48f71e8dcc6
Fixed in
  • 0d0845ee61c5df47cc68bc446501f48f71e8dcc6

AI-suggested

A fix is available in the Linux kernel as indicated by multiple fixed commit versions. Users should upgrade to a kernel version that includes these fixes (commit hashes: f89416eb3db151170a6f3c6dfc5239d26cdce4d2, 6508304ac2c8cdafca2f4ab915df8c707893e134, 2359264f377cdbdef2d95868cc8fb572949e48d3, 69a768c12398cada8528080332c822623fa7064d, 6cab554f2c0f28773f712ed3a5479103f42ce844, 0d0845ee61c5df47cc68bc446501f48f71e8dcc6). No other mitigation is indicated by the vendor advisory.

Description

CVE-2026-98368 is a high-severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel affecting version 6.0. It involves improper handling of zerocopy managed fragments in the ESP (Encapsulating Security Payload) code path, leading to use-after-free and memory leak conditions. The flaw arises because ESP mutates the skb fragment array without properly downgrading zerocopy managed fragments, violating ownership invariants. This can cause reference count underflows and leaks of pinned pages.

References

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