Mount handling in Linux kernel misplaces mounts on namespace files
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: 1 without a fix
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The Linux kernel from 6.17 before 6.18.57 (and in 7.x releases before 7.2.11 and 7.3 where applicable) mishandles mount namespace files in attach_recursive_mnt(), so the topmost mount of a source chain is never checked. An attacker who can move mounts can cause an existing mount to attach below the root of an nsfs dentry, where path walks in the copy's namespace never reach it. The mount then disappears until its parent is removed, and the copy that replaces it cannot be unmounted synchronously.
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: namespace: look at the topmost mount for a mount namespace file attach_recursive_mnt() preallocates a mountpoint for the root of the topmost mount of the source so that a mount that already sits at the destination can be put on top of the source or on top of one of its propagated copies. The copies are made without CL_COPY_MNT_NS_FILE so their chain of overmounts is shorter than the source's. It ends below the first bind mount of a mount namespace file. So while the loop walks up the chain of the source it remembers the mountpoint of that mount in "shorter" and the existing mount is put there for the copies. But the loop ends at the topmost mount without ever looking at it. If the topmost mount is the only mount namespace file in the chain "shorter" stays NULL and mnt_change_mountpoint() attaches the existing mount of the copy below the root of the mount namespace file. That's a dentry of nsfs. No path walk in the copy's mount namespace ever gets there. The mount is gone until its parent goes and the copy that took its place can't be unmounted synchronously because it has a child: S bind mount of a file N bind mount of a mount namespace file on top of S A shared mount, B a slave of A, Q mounted on B/file move_mount(S, A/file) cat B/file -> the content of S instead of Q umount B/file -> EBUSY Look at every mount of the chain including the topmost one.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
Update the Linux kernel to 6.18.57, 7.2.11, or 7.3. The sources list no fixed version for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, which Red Hat rates as having no fix planned.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-07
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.18.57, 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-2026-98987
- 2026-10-23 Alias added: GHSA-8fp8-xwh3-vf8f
- 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
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Sources
- CVE-2026-98987 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98987 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-8fp8-xwh3-vf8f · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98987 · 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