CVE-2026-98369: Linux kernel · xfrm: add missing rcu_read_lock(), skb_dst_force() and dev_hold() for
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 3% 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 addresses the missing RCU read locks and reference counting issues in the xfrm_trans_reinject() function. Users should apply the official Linux kernel updates that include this patch. Since this is a kernel-level vulnerability, updating to the patched kernel versions is the recommended remediation. No additional mitigations are specified beyond applying the patch.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's xfrm subsystem related to improper RCU locking and reference counting was resolved. The issue involved missing rcu_read_lock(), skb_dst_force(), and dev_hold() calls in the xfrm_trans_reinject() function, which caused suspicious RCU usage warnings. This was due to a change converting xfrm_trans_reinject from a tasklet to a workqueue, altering the execution context and causing RCU lockdep warnings and potential use of non-refcounted network device references. The fix involved adding proper RCU read locks and ensuring reference counting of network device structures during packet reinjection.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-98369 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98369 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/d2f5082f9e84653fa1a9e8aebaaff23e688f5e19 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0cda8273265d30cac6423834fd7d4acb75f04fdb (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/41e47f1664be86c91326f0afe0504a1162d00907 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6601d91a85761f33351c71e04ec0bbd294ca07ce (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/664fc0941df7c1918b2cd4de6ee00469ba77d8e4 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/68a317b4aec8ca1868a39d69e40f9e29baa4f40a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6eb3b071be8e260543c604550c54dac66e6b174b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d2f5082f9e84653fa1a9e8aebaaff23e688f5e19 (opens in a new tab)