Stale scatterlist pointer in Linux kernel RDS InfiniBand MR mapping
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
The Linux kernel RDS InfiniBand code from 4.6 before the fixed releases is affected. The function rds_ib_map_frmr() keeps the caller's scatterlist in a memory region even when DMA mapping fails, so the pool can hold a dangling pointer. A local user with low privileges can trigger a use-after-free that leads to local privilege escalation.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-31
Description from the CNA
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: rds: ib: Clear the sg list when mapping an MR fails rds_ib_map_frmr() stores the caller's scatterlist in the MR before DMA mapping and registration can fail. On failure, __rds_rdma_map() unpins the pages and frees the scatterlist, but rds_ib_free_frmr() can still return the MR to the pool with the stale pointer set. This leaves the pool with a dangling scatterlist and can lead to local privilege escalation. KASAN detects the resulting use-after-free when the MR is later torn down: BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in __rds_ib_teardown_mr Read of size 8 Call Trace: __rds_ib_teardown_mr rds_ib_unreg_frmr rds_ib_flush_mr_pool rds_ib_flush_mrs rds_free_mr rds_setsockopt Store the scatterlist in the MR only after DMA mapping succeeds. If DMA mapping fails, return directly while the MR fields remain clear; the caller keeps ownership of the scatterlist and its pinned pages. If a later registration step fails, unmap the scatterlist and clear the MR fields before returning.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
Install a fixed Linux kernel release: 5.10.271, 5.15.222, 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.112, 6.18.55, 7.2.9 or 7.3. The sources list no advisory identifiers for this fix.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-31
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.271, 5.15.222, 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 →
Not affected: 7 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5
Timeline
- 2026-10-18 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98524
- 2026-10-18 Alias added: GHSA-wq82-wxrv-wcj7
- 2026-10-19 Fix available: Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-10-20 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-20 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-24 CVSS score added · CNA
- 2026-10-31 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
Other 8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1be3211e6ac77adbb1eac01314d989d243b32c59
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c42d316163f89cd23de2f3e24558177a8c29bad8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8dca3c81344532a7f05edb3d12f31f3009410a90
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/49ba5ed0129906e0362c2e4b5e21c89b2a41e115
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4468df5bcdef959fd96494e9968f323561a45f4c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e2ee0616260080376123997488b5cf8a3870b8d9
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b36d32f30c3f1e58e3a5ae79d0f52836a316b36e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/58eb1b3325edac42dc6df72c80962bd53a3c8ca7
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Sources
- CVE-2026-98524 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98524 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-wq82-wxrv-wcj7 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98524 · 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