Pipe file reference leak in Linux kernel autofs teardown
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 6 without a fix
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The autofs filesystem in the Linux kernel from 4.18 leaks a reference to the pipe struct file when a mount fails. When autofs_fill_super() fails before clearing AUTOFS_SBI_CATATONIC, autofs_kill_sb() returns without releasing the pipe, so the file reference is never dropped and the leak is permanent.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-30
Description from the CNA
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: autofs: fix sbi->pipe file reference leak in autofs_kill_sb() When autofs_fill_super() fails before clearing AUTOFS_SBI_CATATONIC (for example, when find_get_pid() fails on an invalid pgrp mount option, or when an fs_context is closed before mounting), deactivate_locked_super() invokes autofs_kill_sb() -> autofs_catatonic_mode(sbi). Because AUTOFS_SBI_CATATONIC is still set in sbi->flags, autofs_catatonic_mode() returns early without calling fput(sbi->pipe), permanently leaking the pipe struct file reference. Explicitly release sbi->pipe in autofs_kill_sb() if it is still non-NULL after autofs_catatonic_mode().
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
Upgrade to Linux kernel 5.10.271, 5.15.222, 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.112, 6.18.55, 7.2.9 or 7.3. For Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, Red Hat has no fix planned. For Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, 9 and 10 and Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 and 5, the sources list no fixed version.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-30
- 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: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
Timeline
- 2026-10-18 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98553
- 2026-10-18 Alias added: GHSA-j44w-wp8g-33m4
- 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
- 2026-10-30 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
Other 8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3684e2273ba94553af3c5195a46a50214a1a96e3
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0662b1ff9b383d5a233d344e4dc518c27a17f7b8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/34fa4c1c6e10507dc60e35a82cc9655666946cfd
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a58593b501b7be5ad2bc5181bfa8cd4599be257c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f1c57f5b16bbc3571bd479c290996c4d4e1fb931
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4bcb371019097d0e357f097902587401c509bbc9
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fc4fd0281ac80b5a3c5a2330f688f0f9d2a420b6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/aa5e44b29ffe4eaa08cc2237fd65bc2596bc023e
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Sources
- CVE-2026-98553 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98553 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-j44w-wp8g-33m4 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98553 · 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