CVE-2026-97901 genetlink: pin family module during policy dump
A use-after-free in the Linux kernel's generic netlink policy dump allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges by unloading a module during a pending dump.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-97901?
CVE-2026-97901 is an use after free vulnerability in Linux, published on 25 Sep 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
genetlink: pin family module during policy dump
The generic netlink controller's policy dump keeps pointers to the target family's operation and policy tables in its callback state. A dump may be split across multiple skbs and remain pending after the initial request.
Netlink pins the module which owns the dump callback, but in this case that is the controller's owner rather than the target family's owner. The target family can consequently be unregistered and its module unloaded while a policy dump is pending. Advancing the dump then dereferences policy memory from the unloaded module.
Take a reference to the target family's module when the dump starts. Drop it from the error and done paths. This matches the lifetime for which the dump context retains the family and policy pointers.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-97901?
How do I fix CVE-2026-97901?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2026-97901 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-97901 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as AZL-104715, BELL-CVE-2026-97901, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-97901, GHSA-5pgr-jp8q-29xm, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97901.