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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2026-98982: Linux kernel · namespace: don't let a pseudo dentry become the root of a mount

Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database

0
Authoritative record:CVE-2026-98982· High 7.8

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High.

Data as of 28 Oct 2026, 01:59 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
7.8High
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
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 23 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

Affected software

ProductAffectedFixed in
Ubuntu 26.10linuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther threatsAffected
  • 7.0.0-14.14 – 7.3.0-9.9
6 affected builds
Fixed in–
Ubuntu 26.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther threatsAffected
  • 7.0.0-1004.4 – 7.3.0-1003.3
5 affected builds
Fixed in–
Ubuntu 26.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther threatsAffected
  • 7.0.0-1004.4 – 7.3.0-1003.3
5 affected builds
Fixed in–
Ubuntu 26.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther threatsAffected
  • =7.0.0-1004.4
  • =7.3.0-1002.3
  • =7.3.0-1003.4
Fixed in–
Ubuntu 26.10linux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther threatsAffected
  • 7.0.0-1003.3 – 7.3.0-1003.3
5 affected builds
Fixed in–
Ubuntu 26.10linux-oraclepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oracle?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther threatsAffected
  • 7.0.0-1003.3 – 7.3.0-1003.3
5 affected builds
Fixed in–

Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.

AI-suggested

A fix is available that prevents cloning mounts with a DCACHE_NORCU dentry as the root, effectively blocking the unsafe condition. Users should apply the updated Linux kernel versions that include this fix. Since this is a kernel vulnerability, upgrading to patched kernel versions is the recommended remediation. No alternative mitigations or workarounds are indicated.

Description

CVE-2026-98982 is a high-severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel affecting certain versions where a pseudo dentry can become the root of a mount. This occurs due to improper handling of pseudo dentries (used for pipes, sockets, etc.) that are not meant to be mount roots but can be bind-mounted via /proc/self/fd/<fd>. This leads to a use-after-free condition during mount namespace operations. The vulnerability allows an attacker with local privileges to cause a high-impact compromise including confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

References

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