CVE-2026-98995

High

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: namespace: reset the old parent's ->overmount in mnt_change_mountpoint() __umount_mnt() resets ->overmount of the parent when it unmounts the mount that overmounts it. mnt_change_mountpoint() doesn't. It moves the mount to its new parent and leaves the old one pointing at it. For a mount that is moved beneath in attach_recursive_mnt() that doesn't matter. The new mount has already reset ->overmount of the old parent by the time the old top mount is moved onto it. It matters for reparent() though. propagate_umount() moves a surviving overmount onto the first ancestor that isn't going to be unmounted. The mount it was taken from is unmounted immediately afterwards. If a file descriptor keeps that unmounted mount alive ->overmount points at the moved mount. That's a dangling pointer and UAF as the moved mount is unmounted and freed. do_lock_mount() follows ->overmount from the target path under mount_lock. With a file descriptor on such a mount as the target of a mount beneath topmost_overmount() walks into the freed mount and do_lock_mount() takes references on whatever it finds there. So reset ->overmount of the old parent in mnt_change_mountpoint() the same way __umount_mnt() does. A mount's ->overmount is then always a mount that is attached to it.

Package Linux Kernel
Published 2026-10-23
Last modified 2026-10-24
CVSS version 3.1
Patch available
Yes

CVSS 3.1 score

7.8

out of 10
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Vector string
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 6.17 and later are affected. Fixed in 6.18.57, 7.2.11, 7.3 and their respective stable series.

Affected from
≥ 6.17
Fixed in
✓ 6.18.57 6.18.x ✓ 7.2.11 7.2.x ✓ 7.3

Frequently asked questions

  • What is CVE-2026-98995?

    CVE-2026-98995 is a High severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.8 out of 10 . It affects Linux kernel versions from 6.17 onward and has been patched in 6.18.57, 7.2.11 and 7.3. CVE-2026-98995 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

  • What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-98995?

    CVE-2026-98995 has a CVSS score of 7.8 out of 10, rated High severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H .

  • Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-98995?

    Yes. CVE-2026-98995 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.18.57, 7.2.11 and 7.3. If you are running Linux kernel 6.17 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

  • Is CVE-2026-98995 actively exploited?

    No. CVE-2026-98995 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.