ZDI-26-837: Linux Kernel XFRM Subsystem Use-After-Free Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Source Zero Day Initiative
Not known to be exploited · fixed in 937108dc0258d6ac69926b00bc53598c98986ee1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 29 Oct 2026, 19:18 UTC
Rated High by Zero Day Initiative · CVSS not yet scored by NVD
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 937108dc0258d6ac69926b00bc53598c98986ee1, 89fefad9f971bc637fb22373078144f2563c4be9, 84e378395494963b1e581cf223a7cbeec8c0e2d6 +4
Exploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 6 Oct 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: 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 29 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
If you cannot patch yet, restricting local code execution capabilities and limiting user privileges can reduce risk.
Description
A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux Kernel XFRM subsystem allows local attackers with low-privileged code execution to escalate privileges. The vulnerability is assigned CVE-2026-98231 and has a high severity rating of 7.8 by ZDI. Exploitation requires prior local code execution capability.