CVE-2026-98985: Linux kernel · namespace: check the mounts before reading their parents in pivot_root()
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited.
Data as of 28 Oct 2026, 02:00 UTC
Rated by Threat Radar · CVSS not yet scored by NVD
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
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.10linuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.10linux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.10linux-oraclepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oracle?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther 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
A fix is available that ensures both mounts are verified to be in the caller's mount namespace before their parents are accessed in pivot_root(). Users should update to patched kernel versions that include this fix. No additional mitigation is required as the error returns EINVAL and does not lead to further compromise.
Description
CVE-2026-98985 is a Linux kernel vulnerability in the pivot_root() function related to namespace mount checks. The flaw occurs because path_pivot_root() reads the parents of new_root and the caller's root mounts without verifying that both mounts belong to the caller's mount namespace, potentially causing a use-after-free error. This issue was fixed by ensuring both mounts are checked to be in the caller's namespace before reading their parents. The vulnerability results in an invalid read but returns EINVAL, preventing further damage.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-98985 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98985 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3c2441e21c3df867e4131e0ff784ecdb3a7a55f8 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3dad2330c89343ba083cf7868779083fd5fbe0fe (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6b7c001eb5857fa09041f47673666060a2e5fc1c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a56d4f8f8f4c5d9ac339d5c03a9d90eecd3697fc (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e3aba6900483f64e6c9eb328150dd633b7d36c1c (opens in a new tab)