CVE-2026-98979: Linux kernel · namespace: refuse an automount below a mount that is in no namespace
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · fixed in ba985ce08471c555af2a2fbe217c1bc2e72a6d8c : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:30 UTC
Rated High by Threat Radar's AI analysis · CVSS not yet scored by NVD
- 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 ba985ce08471c555af2a2fbe217c1bc2e72a6d8c, 776e20e4fdc23c23687b511ffdc80047878049d3, 494c57572d2d5bc2839553ed41aabe92ed0f587c +2
Exploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 23 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– |
AI-suggested
A fix is available in the Linux kernel as indicated by the fixed commit hashes. Systems running the affected version (5.8) should be updated to a fixed kernel release containing these patches. No additional mitigation is required once patched.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel (version 5.8) allowed automounts to be added below a mount that is not in the caller's mount namespace, leading to a kernel crash (general protection fault) and system-wide blocking of mount operations. This was due to improper handling of internal mount namespace pointers, causing a null pointer dereference. The issue has been fixed by changing the mount validation logic to reject unmounted and internal mounts, restoring expected error behavior.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/95fb7c259b86f5521f04973040ad492f2bef6f82 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/35f2013f83ef16f9f0331c4c3a8e8d161580d574 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/494c57572d2d5bc2839553ed41aabe92ed0f587c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/776e20e4fdc23c23687b511ffdc80047878049d3 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ba985ce08471c555af2a2fbe217c1bc2e72a6d8c (opens in a new tab)