CVE-2026-98515: Linux kernel · drm/nouveau: fix double-free in nvif_vmm_dtor
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in f09f4a536935b15539f2de9fe775a2641202be90 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 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 f09f4a536935b15539f2de9fe775a2641202be90, bf542ecd4f60d4689818d194e7ca74772fe0f8b5, 375901ac0f286e81be00a4126e57d488cb401884 +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 for this vulnerability is available and has been applied in multiple Linux kernel commits. Users and administrators should update their Linux kernel to a version that includes these fixes. No additional mitigation steps are required beyond applying the official patch.
Description
CVE-2026-98515 is a high-severity double-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's nouveau DRM driver. The flaw occurs because the function nvif_vmm_dtor frees memory pointed to by vmm->page without clearing the pointer, leading to a second free on cleanup paths that call nouveau_cli_fini() twice. This can cause kernel memory corruption and potentially lead to system crashes or privilege escalation. The issue was discovered via fuzzing with a modified Syzkaller tool. A fix has been implemented in multiple Linux kernel commits.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/023e7a01f8fb27799f0987b5bcda325d73a2904c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/375901ac0f286e81be00a4126e57d488cb401884 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/bf542ecd4f60d4689818d194e7ca74772fe0f8b5 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f09f4a536935b15539f2de9fe775a2641202be90 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/279e5ac137370e274a09dd552547ae6bddd0d4d5 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/109a8d2d5b7d2719ebe09df3f9241023900b3846 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/872a5473c02a26c955be44d52b7ab2f8ea70a2cf (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/97077ac87afe9e91ec074ef0be64454e7ccbf344 (opens in a new tab)