Freed GEM object stays in VMA tree in Linux kernel virtio-gpu
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
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- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 5 without a fix
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The Linux kernel drm/virtio driver is affected, from 5.11 before the fixed versions. The function virtio_gpu_vram_create() frees its object with kfree() after the GEM object was initialized, so the freed object stays in the device's VMA offset manager tree and later lookups walk freed memory.
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: drm/virtio: release the GEM object on virtio_gpu_vram_create() errors virtio_gpu_vram_create() frees the object with a bare kfree(vram) on both error paths after drm_gem_private_object_init() has run, and on the second one after drm_gem_create_mmap_offset() has linked obj->vma_node into the device's VMA offset manager. The freed object stays in that interval tree, so a later lookup or insertion walks freed memory, and the dma_resv and gpuva lock are never destroyed. Call drm_gem_object_release() before kfree() on both paths.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
Upgrade the Linux kernel to 5.15.222, 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.112, 6.18.55, 7.2.9 or 7.3. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, 9 and 10 and Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 and 5 are affected, and Red Hat's rating is Moderate with no fix plan available for them.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-30
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 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: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet |
| 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: 2 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
Timeline
- 2026-10-18 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98606
- 2026-10-18 Alias added: GHSA-9vq3-mxmp-fq54
- 2026-10-19 Fix available: Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-10-21 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-21 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-30 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
Other 7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/977c2934064969503cabf98b1135d202ff62822e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5118b5fdf1eb9922a0cdd2afd25252081e2d4302
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a9bb8f8fd5694185c2f71ff91869afb300aab392
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/03bdbf182082694ab2add620d85f1a8b8f51bbbc
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5c2cb3dd1447752b73d4f44d6b7434bc5259bfec
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7c8deb77d05bcc8f79e255f669d82ec6ce91be12
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/036d28db1818af2f9d80db771f5405da84d7732d
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Sources
- CVE-2026-98606 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98606 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-9vq3-mxmp-fq54 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98606 · 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