Memory leak in Linux kernel btrfs encoded io_uring requests
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: 1 without a fix
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The btrfs filesystem in the Linux kernel from 6.13 keeps encoded I/O data allocated when an io_uring request returns EAGAIN for reissue. If the request is cancelled or the ring exits before reissue, io_uring does not free that allocation, which leaks memory. The fix frees the data on every exit path that returns EAGAIN.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-07
Description from the CNA
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: don't stash io_uring encoded data across -EAGAIN Returning -EAGAIN while leaving btrfs_uring_encoded_data in the cmd PDU leaks if the request is cancelled or the ring exits before reissue. io_uring does not free driver PDU allocations on cleanup. Write: io_queue_sqe() always issues with IO_URING_F_NONBLOCK first, so return -EAGAIN before allocating and free data on every exit. Read: free on nowait -EAGAIN too; only -EIOCBQUEUED keeps the allocation for btrfs_uring_read_finished().
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
Fixed versions are Linux kernel 7.2.11 and 7.3. Red Hat lists Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 as affected with no fix planned.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-07
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 7.2.11, 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 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
Not affected: 6 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- 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
- 2026-10-23 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98960
- 2026-10-23 Alias added: GHSA-wr36-cvhp-r8q2
- 2026-10-29 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-29 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-11-07 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
More Linux vulnerabilities
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- TI-2022-00125 Integer overflow in kernel KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2013-01864 The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
Sources
- CVE-2026-98960 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98960 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-wr36-cvhp-r8q2 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98960 · 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