Use-after-free in Linux io_uring task_work add with SQPOLL
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: 4 without a fix
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The io_uring subsystem in the Linux kernel from 6.9 contains a use-after-free when SQPOLL is used. The SQPOLL thread can complete a request and free the ring context while the task_work add path still reads and writes that context.
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: io_uring: fix task_work add use-after-free with SQPOLL For SQPOLL, the sqpoll thread runs task_work off its own list and doesn't need to be told about it, so it can pop and complete a request as soon as mpscq_push() has published it. If that was the last request holding the ring alive, io_ring_exit_work() then frees the ctx, stops the thread, and with it the tctx, while io_req_normal_work_add() is still looking at both after the push: BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in io_req_normal_work_add+0x439/0x510 Read of size 4 at addr ff11000000ca0000 by task repro/55 (...) BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in queue_work_on+0x25/0x70 Write of size 8 at addr ff11000000c3bd00 by task repro/55 Hold an RCU read lock across the add, like io_req_local_work_add() already does, and have io_ring_exit_work() wait for a grace period for SQPOLL rings as well before freeing the ctx.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
The Linux kernel is fixed in 6.12.113, 6.18.56, 7.2.10 and 7.3. Red Hat rates this Moderate, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 and Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 are affected with Red Hat's plan listed as none available.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.12.113, 6.18.56, 7.2.10, 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 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: 5 products
- 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
Timeline
- 2026-10-18 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98858
- 2026-10-18 Alias added: GHSA-v42g-qm29-227m
- 2026-10-19 Fix available: Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-10-24 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-24 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-27 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-11-04 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
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Sources
- CVE-2026-98858 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98858 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-v42g-qm29-227m · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98858 · 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