Linux Kernel up to 6.12.111/6.18.53/7.2.7/7.3-rc3 xfrm xfrm_input use after free

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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9.5$5k-$25k0.26

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as very critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.111/6.18.53/7.2.7/7.3-rc3. This affects the function xfrm_input of the component xfrm. The manipulation leads to use after free. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2026-98229. The attack can be initiated remotely. There is not any exploit available. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as very critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.111/6.18.53/7.2.7/7.3-rc3. This issue affects the function xfrm_input of the component xfrm. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xfrm: save input state data before secpath resets xfrm_input() stores the current xfrm_state in the skb secpath while it continues receive-side processing. Some input paths can reset that secpath before xfrm_input() has finished dereferencing the state. Receive callback users such as VTI and XFRM interfaces can reset the secpath. The VTI receive path does so before checking whether the packet crosses network namespaces, while the XFRM interface path does so only for cross-network-namespace packets. The XFRM_MAX_DEPTH error path can also reset the secpath before the final drop callback reports the current state's protocol. If secpath_reset() drops the last state reference while the state is concurrently deleted, xfrm_input() can still dereference the freed state when selecting transport_finish() or reporting the drop callback protocol. Save the state protocol on the stack while the state is still valid, and use the already saved address family for transport_finish(). A larval XFRM_STATE_ACQ state has no type, so retain nexthdr as its protocol. This preserves the existing drop-path fallback while avoiding the post-reset state dereferences without adding an extra state reference to every received packet.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-98229 since 09/25/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $5k-$25k at the moment (estimation calculated on 10/06/2026).

Upgrading to version 6.12.112, 6.18.54, 7.2.8 or 7.3-rc4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 35de97850987b3d022ed17df5b2577242e746daf/148db154066b066616b82c12d373e786eba1f96a/537a5ae18b2be70f8eb0aca843682e81a69aab91/3cf5cdecd99c9c186a5ea518d93bbf3045b6e3aa is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

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Productinfo

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Vendor

Name

Version

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Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.5

VulDB Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Temp Score: 9.5
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Use after free
CWE: CWE-416 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.12.112/6.18.54/7.2.8/7.3-rc4
Patch: 35de97850987b3d022ed17df5b2577242e746daf/148db154066b066616b82c12d373e786eba1f96a/537a5ae18b2be70f8eb0aca843682e81a69aab91/3cf5cdecd99c9c186a5ea518d93bbf3045b6e3aa

Timelineinfo

09/25/2026 CVE reserved
10/06/2026 +11 days Advisory disclosed
10/06/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
10/06/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-98229 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-98229
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-414191

Entryinfo

Created: 10/06/2026 13:32
Changes: 10/06/2026 13:32 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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