CVE-2026-98533 ipe: protect the dm-verity root hash with RCU
A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel IPE subsystem allows attackers to cause denial of service or execute code via dm-verity root hash updates.
- 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-2026-98533?
CVE-2026-98533 is an use after free vulnerability in Linux, published on 18 Oct 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:
ipe: protect the dm-verity root hash with RCU
ipe_bdev_setintegrity() frees the old root hash when dm-verity publishes a new one on ->preresume, while policy evaluation can still be dereferencing it.
Protect the root hash with RCU. The evaluation path already runs under rcu_read_lock().
[FW: remove model name according to latest guideline]
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-98533?
How do I fix CVE-2026-98533?
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-2026-98533 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-98533 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2026-98533, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-98533, GHSA-8f5g-gpf2-m64q, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-98533.