CVE-2026-98491: Linux kernel · net: openvswitch: conntrack: avoid modifying shared unconfirmed ct entry
Source GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in e2829ae5459ddb5fce526b2e84697edf6c0c3cef : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 12:55 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 6% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in e2829ae5459ddb5fce526b2e84697edf6c0c3cef, e0fa5ea434b7e8467ef3adc64e3858b1ca2a642d, de41ee24f77b0fc45397db3e277cae2adbd43dfe +5
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 18 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 has been implemented in the Linux kernel to reset the unconfirmed connection tracking entry during commit to avoid sharing and modification issues. Users should apply the official kernel updates that include this fix once available. Since this is a kernel-level vulnerability, upgrading to the patched kernel version is the recommended remediation. Patch status is not explicitly confirmed in the provided data; check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's Open vSwitch conntrack implementation could lead to use-after-free (UAF) conditions when cloned skb packets with unconfirmed connection tracking entries are committed with different extension sets. This issue arises from modifying shared unconfirmed ct entries during commit operations. The fix involves resetting the entry to prevent sharing and modification conflicts. No known practical network pipelines require committing both clones without modifications in the same zone, and no known exploits are reported.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98491 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/26b2bd70d22457556e2fa01cbf1192cb1a94d619 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/37e3c878b183a115f9a114067f9ef3b408ad27fb (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/457e0df1b5711fbeb7ba1b6bfd826f5ef30e7e55 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/55e5256adf3940e71802e2f749cacf81518726b0 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/707c2dc77891a874f4e8c52c285a511079164ec8 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/de41ee24f77b0fc45397db3e277cae2adbd43dfe (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e0fa5ea434b7e8467ef3adc64e3858b1ca2a642d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e2829ae5459ddb5fce526b2e84697edf6c0c3cef (opens in a new tab)