CVE-2026-98740: Linux kernel · EDAC/altera: Drop __init from ECC setup paths for re-probe safety
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · fixed in b62a264163ca51bee04785c581344751812395df : 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
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 7% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in b62a264163ca51bee04785c581344751812395df, 9846b85c2eb8b749c3f14bdcc31b1070f6aabba8, 4ec26cb7984740941892ad21fa974963c198bfaa
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 Linux kernel to b62a264163ca51bee04785c581344751812395df, 9846b85c2eb8b749c3f14bdcc31b1070f6aabba8 or 4ec26cb7984740941892ad21fa974963c198bfaa.
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– |
AI-suggested
A fix is available and has been applied in the Linux kernel as indicated by the fixed commit versions. Users should update to a kernel version that includes these fixes to prevent the issue. No additional mitigation steps are indicated.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's EDAC/altera driver involves the improper use of __init annotation on ECC setup functions. These functions, which run during device probing, may be called after the __init memory is freed due to deferred probing or manual unbind/rebind operations, leading to dereferencing freed memory. The issue is fixed by removing the __init annotation to ensure these functions remain valid at runtime.