CVE-2026-98740 EDAC/altera: Drop __init from ECC setup paths for re-probe safety
A use-after-free vulnerability in the Altera EDAC driver allows local attackers with high privileges to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges via probe deferral.
- 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-2026-98740?
CVE-2026-98740 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:
EDAC/altera: Drop __init from ECC setup paths for re-probe safety
Sashiko reports:
"Does suppressing sysfs unbinding fully prevent the execution of freed __init memory? If altr_sysmgr_regmap_lookup_by_phandle() returns -EPROBE_DEFER, the probe is deferred until after __init memory is freed."
The a10 EDAC .setup callbacks (sdmmc, ethernet, nand, dma, usb, qspi) and their helpers (altr_init_a10_ecc_device_type, altr_init_a10_ecc_block) were marked __init. These run from the probe path, which may execute after init memory is freed -- e.g. a probe deferred via -EPROBE_DEFER that only succeeds once a late/module dependency appears, or a manual unbind/rebind. Calling __init code then dereferences freed memory. Remove __init so these functions remain valid at runtime.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-98740?
How do I fix CVE-2026-98740?
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-2026-98740 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-98740 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as AZL-108602, BELL-CVE-2026-98740, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-98740, GHSA-rrjq-wrm9-p6gm, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-98740.