CVE-2026-98508: Linux kernel · drm/virtio: fix NULL pointer dereference on fence allocation failure
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · fixed in f2f1683955b95c9b958069da3050f7e8e129ff88 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 12:55 UTC
Rated Medium by Threat Radar's AI analysis · CVSS not yet scored by NVD
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 9% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in f2f1683955b95c9b958069da3050f7e8e129ff88, ecced0076b700b5896e52af10d0776be8be36b0d, a8b83ed4a4b1d04c756f53e375e86d3881f66e72 +4
Exploitation 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
|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Linuxlinux/kernelpkg:deb/linux/kernelOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
This vulnerability has been fixed in Linux kernel versions 6.2, 6.6, and the specific commits referenced. Users should upgrade to Linux kernel versions 6.2 or later, or 6.6 or later, to mitigate this issue. No additional mitigation steps are required beyond applying the official fixes.
Description
A NULL pointer dereference vulnerability exists in the Linux kernel's drm/virtio driver due to lack of proper error checking on fence allocation failure. Specifically, virtio_gpu_fence_alloc() can return NULL under memory pressure, but the caller virtio_gpu_init_submit() does not check this, leading to a NULL pointer dereference in virtio_gpu_fence_event_create(). This flaw was discovered via fuzzing with Syzkaller and can cause a kernel crash (general protection fault).
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9571ab7493561afb4624d69572a7ebb67d76d10f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a8b83ed4a4b1d04c756f53e375e86d3881f66e72 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f2f1683955b95c9b958069da3050f7e8e129ff88 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ecced0076b700b5896e52af10d0776be8be36b0d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/846b3c64fe3e77d9db20a7e3e62dbbb637c773e1 (opens in a new tab)