Linux Kernel up to 7.3.0 KEYS key_reject_and_link locking

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.
8.4	$0-$5k	0.35

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.3.0. It has been rated as very critical. This impacts the function key_reject_and_link of the component KEYS. The manipulation leads to locking. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2026-99245. The attack needs to be performed locally. There is not any exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.3.0 and classified as very critical. This issue affects the function key_reject_and_link of the component KEYS. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a locking vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-667. The product does not properly acquire or release a lock on a resource, leading to unexpected resource state changes and behaviors. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KEYS: Fix key_reject_and_link() race with keyring restriction The restrict_link check in key_reject_and_link() is done before taking the keyring semaphore, racing with a concurrent keyring_restrict() that installs the restriction while holding the semaphore in write mode. Move the check to after __key_link_lock(), so it is done under the semaphore, matching the pattern used in __key_create_or_update().

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-99245 since 09/25/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. An attack has to be approached locally. 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 11/03/2026).

Upgrading to version 5.10.273, 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 c7956ec99ad0e173720d95de9fa788bb077809f2/2c3d907dd15f4e30d4c35b9f7a7a5078de6a1b1f/72f367417a6aee56821d0b0114cfd2b080008b63/19dfc37c9deefa69dc805d01d35d1f2fd7902e33/5787887eba0f0979a8c86d03a8e891395d5c24ad/01835d3a3709be508ae5209f806640336c48e395/6fc0c818b1cac66003e937c8a0d3bfb23fd3f130/23a9163cc40b4996ba1e20533b1210a1a0bee416 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

• 5.10.272
• 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: 8.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 8.4

VulDB Base Score: 8.8
VulDB Temp Score: 8.4
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: Locking
CWE: CWE-667
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

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 5.10.273/5.15.224/6.1.191/6.6.161/6.12.115/6.18.60/7.2.14/7.3.1
Patch: c7956ec99ad0e173720d95de9fa788bb077809f2/2c3d907dd15f4e30d4c35b9f7a7a5078de6a1b1f/72f367417a6aee56821d0b0114cfd2b080008b63/19dfc37c9deefa69dc805d01d35d1f2fd7902e33/5787887eba0f0979a8c86d03a8e891395d5c24ad/01835d3a3709be508ae5209f806640336c48e395/6fc0c818b1cac66003e937c8a0d3bfb23fd3f130/23a9163cc40b4996ba1e20533b1210a1a0bee416

Timelineinfo

09/25/2026 CVE reserved
11/03/2026 +39 days Advisory disclosed
11/03/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
11/03/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CNA: Linux
CVE: CVE-2026-99245 (🔒)

GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-99245
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-430241

Entryinfo

Created: 11/03/2026 12:45
Changes: 11/03/2026 12:45 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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

Discussion

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