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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2026-98491: Linux kernel · net: openvswitch: conntrack: avoid modifying shared unconfirmed ct entry

Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5

0

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

CVSS 3.1 base score
7.8High
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
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:H

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 18 Oct 2026

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponised: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq 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

ProductAffectedFixed in
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ cae3a2627520c3795b54533c5328b77af3405dbe, < e2829ae5459ddb5fce526b2e84697edf6c0c3cef
Fixed in
  • e2829ae5459ddb5fce526b2e84697edf6c0c3cef
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ cae3a2627520c3795b54533c5328b77af3405dbe, < e0fa5ea434b7e8467ef3adc64e3858b1ca2a642d
Fixed in
  • e0fa5ea434b7e8467ef3adc64e3858b1ca2a642d
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ cae3a2627520c3795b54533c5328b77af3405dbe, < de41ee24f77b0fc45397db3e277cae2adbd43dfe
Fixed in
  • de41ee24f77b0fc45397db3e277cae2adbd43dfe
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ cae3a2627520c3795b54533c5328b77af3405dbe, < 707c2dc77891a874f4e8c52c285a511079164ec8
Fixed in
  • 707c2dc77891a874f4e8c52c285a511079164ec8
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ cae3a2627520c3795b54533c5328b77af3405dbe, < 457e0df1b5711fbeb7ba1b6bfd826f5ef30e7e55
Fixed in
  • 457e0df1b5711fbeb7ba1b6bfd826f5ef30e7e55
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ cae3a2627520c3795b54533c5328b77af3405dbe, < 55e5256adf3940e71802e2f749cacf81518726b0
Fixed in
  • 55e5256adf3940e71802e2f749cacf81518726b0

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

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