Linux Kernel up to 6.12.112/6.18.55/7.2.9/7.3-rc5 audit kill_rules use after free

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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Current Exploit Price (≈)
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CTI Interest Score
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7.8$0-$5k2.28-

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.112/6.18.55/7.2.9/7.3-rc5 and classified as very critical. This issue affects the function kill_rules of the component audit. The manipulation leads to use after free. This vulnerability is referenced as CVE-2026-98862. The attack can only be performed from a local environment. No exploit is available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.112/6.18.55/7.2.9/7.3-rc5. It has been rated as very critical. This issue affects the function kill_rules of the component audit. 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: audit: fix exe mark UAF in kill_rules() kill_rules() removes mixed AUDIT_DIR and AUDIT_EXE rules when an audit tree is pruned. It drops entry->rule.exe before removing the rule from the RCU-visible filter lists. After a rule has been installed with AUDIT_ADD_RULE, which requires CAP_AUDIT_CONTROL, removing the watched directory can race with another task that is still evaluating the rule. In that case, fsnotify can free the executable mark before the reader reaches audit_mark_compare(), causing a use-after-free. KASAN reports: BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in audit_mark_compare+0x8d/0xa0 Unlink the published rules from the RCU-visible lists and retain them on tree->rules for cleanup. If any rule has an executable mark, wait for a single RCU grace period before removing the marks and scheduling the entries for freeing. Otherwise, call_rcu() already provides the required deferred freeing without a synchronous wait.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-98862 since 09/25/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. An attack has to be approached locally. The exploitation requires an enhanced level of successful authentication. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available. The price for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 10/18/2026).

Upgrading to version 6.12.113, 6.18.56, 7.2.10 or 7.3-rc6 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 304960900991157e6883bdf0b39782b690545ee8/88633025f20ba9c32ccdb3efc86eafdf98cb825c/f2cc5462b78559c7628a9f8ac9a9592e7783183a/aa650d87a498844060eecb1d336f4d46f4d1b0b3 is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at EUVD (EUVD-2026-103802). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 8.2
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.8

VulDB Base Score: 8.2
VulDB Temp Score: 7.8
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: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

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 6.12.113/6.18.56/7.2.10/7.3-rc6
Patch: 304960900991157e6883bdf0b39782b690545ee8/88633025f20ba9c32ccdb3efc86eafdf98cb825c/f2cc5462b78559c7628a9f8ac9a9592e7783183a/aa650d87a498844060eecb1d336f4d46f4d1b0b3

Timelineinfo

09/25/2026 CVE reserved
10/18/2026 +23 days Advisory disclosed
10/18/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
10/18/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-98862 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-98862
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-421865
EUVD: 🔒

Entryinfo

Created: 10/18/2026 18:37
Updated: 10/18/2026 19:50
Changes: 10/18/2026 18:37 (59), 10/18/2026 19:50 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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