CVE-2026-98534 ipe: fix use-after-free when auditing a newly loaded policy
A use-after-free in the Linux kernel IPE subsystem allows local attackers to execute code or escalate privileges via a race condition during policy loading.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- An administrator
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-98534?
CVE-2026-98534 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: fix use-after-free when auditing a newly loaded policy
new_policy() audits the policy after ipe_new_policyfs_node() publishes it and drops the new directory's inode lock. A concurrent delete can free the policy while ipe_audit_policy_load() is still using it.
Audit the successful load under that lock.
[FW: remove model name according to latest guideline]
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-98534?
How do I fix CVE-2026-98534?
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-2026-98534 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-98534 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2026-98534, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-98534, GHSA-rvjx-cgvf-j557, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-98534.