CVE-2026-98286

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: drop_monitor: use timer_shutdown_sync() to prevent timer rearming during teardown In drop_monitor teardown paths (net_dm_trace_off_set(), net_dm_hw_monitor_stop(), and error unwind paths in net_dm_trace_on_set() and net_dm_hw_monitor_start()), per-CPU timers are stopped using timer_delete_sync() followed by cancel_work_sync(). However, there is a circular dependency between send_timer and dm_alert_work: 1) sched_send_work() (timer callback) schedules dm_alert_work. 2) send_dm_alert() / net_dm_hw_summary_work() calls reset_per_cpu_data() or net_dm_hw_reset_per_cpu_data(). 3) If memory allocation fails under memory pressure in the reset function, it re-arms the timer via mod_timer(&data->send_timer, ...). If dm_alert_work is running concurrently while timer_delete_sync() executes on another CPU, an allocation failure in the worker will re-arm the timer after timer_delete_sync() has already returned. Once cancel_work_sync() completes and module_put() is called, the timer remains active in the timer wheel. If the module is then unloaded, the timer will fire and execute sched_send_work() in freed memory, triggering a kernel panic / use-after-free. Switch from timer_delete_sync() to timer_shutdown_sync(). This guarantees that any in-flight timer handler has finished and prevents subsequent re-arming attempts from running workers from succeeding. When monitoring is restarted later, timer_setup() is invoked, which cleanly re-initializes the timer.

Package Linux Kernel
Published 2026-10-06
Last modified 2026-10-06
Patch available
Yes

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 5.10.27, 5.11.11, 5.12 and later are affected. Fixed in 6.18.54, 7.2.8, 7.3-rc4 and their respective stable series.

Affected from
≥ 5.10.27 ≥ 5.11.11 ≥ 5.12
Fixed in
✓ 6.18.54 6.18.x ✓ 7.2.8 7.2.x ✓ 7.3-rc4

Frequently asked questions

  • What is CVE-2026-98286?

    CVE-2026-98286 is a unscored severity Linux kernel vulnerability . It affects Linux kernel versions from 5.10.27 onward and has been patched in 6.18.54, 7.2.8 and 7.3-rc4. CVE-2026-98286 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

  • Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-98286?

    Yes. CVE-2026-98286 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.18.54, 7.2.8 and 7.3-rc4. If you are running Linux kernel 5.10.27 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

  • Is CVE-2026-98286 actively exploited?

    No. CVE-2026-98286 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.