Linux Kernel up to 7.3.0 trusted_keys trusted_tpm_unseal return value

CVSS Meta Temp Score CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.	Current Exploit Price (≈) Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.	CTI Interest Score Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
9.5	$5k-$25k	0.42-

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.3.0 and classified as very critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function trusted_tpm_unseal of the component trusted_keys. Such manipulation leads to return value. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-99221. The attack can be launched remotely. No exploit exists. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.3.0. It has been rated as very critical. Affected by this issue is the function trusted_tpm_unseal of the component trusted_keys. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a return value vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-252. The product does not check the return value from a method or function, which can prevent it from detecting unexpected states and conditions. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: keys/trusted_keys: return immediately after TPM unseal failure trusted_tpm_unseal() proceeds to pcrlock() when the TPM unseal operation fails. If pcrlock() succeeds, its return value overwrites the unseal error, causing key instantiation to succeed. Return immediately when unseal fails to preserve the original error.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-99221 since 09/25/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be launched remotely. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $5k-$25k at the moment (estimation calculated on 11/02/2026).

Upgrading to version 5.15.224, 6.1.191, 6.6.161, 6.12.115, 6.18.60, 7.2.14 or 7.3.1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 4876f09ce222e140a73aad950882b3605440c935/2d92a0f87c338a08367aff05edd1ade86da4ac8d/234d09bb3b3d84851d4b3246272addc30f3353eb/6e359d8cb8580b9874801dea930086effd4d9c62/e55d48f21f591a9fe80d26b5fbd1912ea725d9e6/63b19ec2863b2cb5279b746ecd3d6210b1a93945/ed697a5f667435bbb1cedbe5bd9f300de645047d is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

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Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.15.223
• 6.1.190
• 6.6.160
• 6.12.114
• 6.18.0
• 6.18.1
• 6.18.2
• 6.18.3
• 6.18.4
• 6.18.5
• 6.18.6
• 6.18.7
• 6.18.8
• 6.18.9
• 6.18.10
• 6.18.11
• 6.18.12
• 6.18.13
• 6.18.14
• 6.18.15
• 6.18.16
• 6.18.17
• 6.18.18
• 6.18.19
• 6.18.20
• 6.18.21
• 6.18.22
• 6.18.23
• 6.18.24
• 6.18.25
• 6.18.26
• 6.18.27
• 6.18.28
• 6.18.29
• 6.18.30
• 6.18.31
• 6.18.32
• 6.18.33
• 6.18.34
• 6.18.35
• 6.18.36
• 6.18.37
• 6.18.38
• 6.18.39
• 6.18.40
• 6.18.41
• 6.18.42
• 6.18.43
• 6.18.44
• 6.18.45
• 6.18.46
• 6.18.47
• 6.18.48
• 6.18.49
• 6.18.50
• 6.18.51
• 6.18.52
• 6.18.53
• 6.18.54
• 6.18.55
• 6.18.56
• 6.18.57
• 6.18.58
• 6.18.59
• 7.0
• 7.1
• 7.2
• 7.2.0
• 7.2.1
• 7.2.2
• 7.2.3
• 7.2.4
• 7.2.5
• 7.2.6
• 7.2.7
• 7.2.8
• 7.2.9
• 7.2.10
• 7.2.11
• 7.2.12
• 7.2.13
• 7.3.0

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 9.9
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.5

VulDB Base Score: 9.9
VulDB Temp Score: 9.5
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Return value
CWE: CWE-252 / CWE-253
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

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

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.15.224/6.1.191/6.6.161/6.12.115/6.18.60/7.2.14/7.3.1
Patch: 4876f09ce222e140a73aad950882b3605440c935/2d92a0f87c338a08367aff05edd1ade86da4ac8d/234d09bb3b3d84851d4b3246272addc30f3353eb/6e359d8cb8580b9874801dea930086effd4d9c62/e55d48f21f591a9fe80d26b5fbd1912ea725d9e6/63b19ec2863b2cb5279b746ecd3d6210b1a93945/ed697a5f667435bbb1cedbe5bd9f300de645047d

Timelineinfo

09/25/2026 CVE reserved
11/02/2026 +38 days Advisory disclosed
11/02/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
11/02/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CNA: Linux
CVE: CVE-2026-99221 (🔒)

GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-99221
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-429902

Entryinfo

Created: 11/02/2026 17:22
Changes: 11/02/2026 17:22 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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