Use-after-free in BPF link iterator of the Linux kernel
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 4 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The Linux kernel from 5.19 is affected. The BPF link iterator takes a reference to a link whose ID is not yet published, so a link creation that fails can leave the iterator with a dangling reference (CWE id not given). A local user with low privileges can trigger a use-after-free with high confidentiality, integrity and availability impact.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
Description from the CNA
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf: Skip unsettled links in link iterator bpf_link_prime() inserts a link into link_idr before anon_inode_getfile() succeeds and before bpf_link_settle() publishes the ID in link->id. bpf_link_by_id() treats such an ID-zero link as unsettled, but the link iterator takes a reference without this check. If anon_inode_getfile() then fails, the creator removes the ID and frees its still-private link directly. The iterator is left with a dangling reference and its next bpf_link_put() accesses freed memory. Treat ID-zero entries as transient in bpf_link_get_curr_or_next(), just as bpf_link_by_id() does. BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in bpf_link_put Write of size 8 by task exp/384 Call Trace: bpf_link_put kernel/bpf/syscall.c:3372 bpf_link_seq_next kernel/bpf/link_iter.c:33 bpf_seq_read kernel/bpf/bpf_iter.c:158 vfs_read fs/read_write.c:572 ksys_read fs/read_write.c:716 do_syscall_64 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:84 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:121 Kernel panic - not syncing: KASAN: panic_on_warn set ...
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
Update the Linux kernel to 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.112, 6.18.55, 7.2.9 or 7.3, depending on the branch in use. Red Hat lists Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 with no fix planned, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 and Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 and 5 with no fix available.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.112, 6.18.55, 7.2.9, 7.3
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 | Affected | No fix yet |
Not affected: 4 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4
Timeline
- 2026-10-09 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98378
- 2026-10-09 Alias added: GHSA-9m4g-3f3p-3783
- 2026-10-11 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-11 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-16 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-19 Fix available: Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-10-24 CVSS score added · CNA
- 2026-10-30 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
Other 6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/68930f8d40ab4c10ca3b019f076136758fd100a8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c251ed48bd9063cf7de6049421e78b6de989060f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/798a61edbc436cacdb659927d067368eeb1e30e2
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6e271f093d15d323f42de26f66556af53fa8e19f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/87ce4b53b7436b50fc984f0a6afaf77f68ac5573
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/50e80e2bb5e2be8515205b9c496b9640ddefa434
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Sources
- CVE-2026-98378 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98378 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-9m4g-3f3p-3783 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98378 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences