CVE-2026-98491: Linux kernel · net: openvswitch: conntrack: avoid modifying shared unconfirmed ct entry
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
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 is available and has been applied in specific Linux kernel commits. Users and administrators should update affected Linux kernel versions to incorporate these fixes. Since this is a kernel-level vulnerability, applying the official patches or upgrading to a fixed kernel version is the recommended mitigation. There are no known workarounds or temporary mitigations.
Description
CVE-2026-98491 is a high-severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel's openvswitch conntrack component. It involves a use-after-free (UAF) condition triggered when cloned skb packets with unconfirmed conntrack entries are committed with different extension sets, potentially causing memory corruption. The issue arises from modifying a shared unconfirmed conntrack entry, which can break pointers in the expectation list. The vulnerability has been fixed in specific Linux kernel commits.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e0fa5ea434b7e8467ef3adc64e3858b1ca2a642d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/37e3c878b183a115f9a114067f9ef3b408ad27fb (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/55e5256adf3940e71802e2f749cacf81518726b0 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e2829ae5459ddb5fce526b2e84697edf6c0c3cef (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/457e0df1b5711fbeb7ba1b6bfd826f5ef30e7e55 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/26b2bd70d22457556e2fa01cbf1192cb1a94d619 (opens in a new tab)