CVE-2026-98378: Linux kernel · bpf: Skip unsettled links in link iterator
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in c251ed48bd9063cf7de6049421e78b6de989060f : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC
- 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 c251ed48bd9063cf7de6049421e78b6de989060f, 68930f8d40ab4c10ca3b019f076136758fd100a8, 798a61edbc436cacdb659927d067368eeb1e30e2 +3
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 9 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
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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AI-suggested
A fix is available and has been applied in the Linux kernel. Users running version 5.19 should upgrade to a fixed kernel version containing the referenced commits to mitigate this vulnerability.
Description
CVE-2026-98378 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's BPF subsystem affecting version 5.19. The flaw occurs because the link iterator takes a reference to a link without checking if it is unsettled (ID-zero), leading to a dangling pointer when anon_inode_getfile() fails and the link is freed. This can cause kernel memory corruption and potentially a kernel panic.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/68930f8d40ab4c10ca3b019f076136758fd100a8 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c251ed48bd9063cf7de6049421e78b6de989060f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/798a61edbc436cacdb659927d067368eeb1e30e2 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6e271f093d15d323f42de26f66556af53fa8e19f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/87ce4b53b7436b50fc984f0a6afaf77f68ac5573 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/50e80e2bb5e2be8515205b9c496b9640ddefa434 (opens in a new tab)