Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-97941)
Summary
Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-97941). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.
Original description
The description as published by the source.
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
mm/slab: take n->list_lock in __slab_try_return_freelist() to avoid race
Commit ba7425312607 ("mm, slab: add an optimistic
__slab_try_return_freelist()") incorrectly assumed that nobody has freed
an object to the slab as long as slab->freelist is NULL and cmpxchg
succeeds.
However, as reported by Hyunwoo Kim [1], other CPUs might have freed
an object to the slab, insert the slab to the partial list, then
allocated an object from the slab, and be in the middle of removing
the slab from the list under n->list_lock.
Since __refill_objects_node() puts the slab back on pc.slabs
outside n->list_lock, it might insert the slab into that list while
the slab is concurrently being removed from n->partial.
This led to a list corruption [1]:
list_add corruption. next->prev should be prev
(ffff888100000248), but was dead000000000122.
(next=ffffea000416e410).
kernel BUG at lib/list_debug.c:29!
Oops: invalid opcode: 0000 [#1] SMP NOPTI
CPU: 1 UID: 65534 PID: 144 Comm: poc Not tainted
7.2.0-16172-gcf72cbb39da8-dirty #1 PREEMPT(lazy)
RIP: 0010:__list_add_valid_or_report+0x80/0xd0
...
Call Trace:
alloc_from_new_slab+0x183/0x300
___slab_alloc+0x31c/0x890
__kmalloc_noprof+0x3d4/0x800
lsm_blob_alloc+0x2d/0x50
security_msg_msg_alloc+0x26/0x90
load_msg+0x1aa/0x210
do_msgsnd+0x91/0x800
do_syscall_64+0x109/0x5d0
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f
...
Kernel panic - not sync…
Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database NVD GitHub Advisory
Auto-generated summary
Assembled by SecPulse from the source data (CVSS, CWE, affected versions) using templates — no AI involved. Check the original description and references below for exact details.
A vulnerability tracked as CVE-2026-97941 has been found in Linux kernel.
Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover. CVSS score: 7.8/10.
What to do: apply the vendor's official patched release.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "Linux kernel CVE-2026-97941" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2026-97941 (Linux kernel) — CVSS v3 7.8
Attack vector: local / no user interaction
Plan: 1) Audit SBOM/dependencies, 2) Stage→prod upgrade, 3) Add WAF/proxy monitoring on affected endpoints, 4) Hunt IOCs in logs.
Refs: see the GHSA / vendor advisory / patched release linked on this page.
A vulnerability (unclassified) exists in Linux kernel.
Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of Linux kernel.
Severity: High (CVSS 7.8/10). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.
Update to the patched release per vendor advisory.
Until the patch is applied: disable the affected feature, apply WAF rules, or restrict access via network ACLs.
Search webserver/proxy logs for unusual request patterns matching this CVE's known IOCs. Audit SBOM/dependencies to find affected services.
Response actions
Concrete steps and command examples for SOC/SRE teams to execute in order
-
1Identify exposure identify
Audit SBOM/dependencies for affected components.資産台帳・SBOM・依存マニフェストで Linux kernel を使っているサービスとバージョンを洗い出す。
-
2Post-deployment verification verify
Confirm patched version is live in productionパッチ適用後、ステージングで PoC または同等の悪用パターンを再現して脆弱性が閉じたことを確認。本番ではアクセスログ・WAF でアラート再発が無いか継続監視。
References
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web nvd.nist.gov
- web github.com