# 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.

- **Severity:** Not scored
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 18 Oct 2026
- **Updated:** 19 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** AZL-108602, BELL-CVE-2026-98740, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-98740, GHSA-rrjq-wrm9-p6gm, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-98740

## 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.

## Is CVE-2026-98740 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-98740 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-98740 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: 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.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-98740 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-98740/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-98740/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98740
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98740
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-98740

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-98740/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.