CVE-2026-98016 net/mlx5e: Fix use-after-free race in sample_restore_put()
A use-after-free race condition in the Linux kernel mlx5e driver allows local attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-98016?
CVE-2026-98016 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:
net/mlx5e: Fix use-after-free race in sample_restore_put()
Concurrent teardown of TC sample rules sharing the same restore context may re-read restore->count after dropping restore_lock. At that point another thread may already have completed cleanup and freed the restore object.
Use the result of the refcount decrement while holding restore_lock to determine whether cleanup is needed.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-98016?
How do I fix CVE-2026-98016?
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-2026-98016 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-98016 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as AZL-104664, BELL-CVE-2026-98016, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-98016, GHSA-hw2x-mg9v-qw7c, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-98016.