CVE-2026-98381: Linux kernel · veth: manage XDP program pointers during channel resize
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 12:55 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 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
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.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's veth driver involves improper management of XDP program pointers during channel resizing in the veth_set_channels() function. This flaw can lead to use-after-free conditions where freed XDP programs may be executed again, causing kernel panics and fatal exceptions in interrupt context.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-98381 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98381 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1a5c5b9c64ba5f39dba55da6e12561ca56eeb758 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/25bb7c36225220d30f404d7e29d2e052bc5f4b99 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3c10a5dd0d38f506f671dbb59e9d0ee4c72076f9 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/43f6b647f209591b1e3f726bb16b8dcba6b95908 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7104a370714346b667712913dc16abf14bbc97ed (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7a8e143109ff2736dc79e41dcd55af7ceab7520a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f0e8dba8c224981e53c792c6b3dbb7604fb2c2c6 (opens in a new tab)