CVE-2026-98281

Summary

The Linux kernel fails to properly allocate private futex hash tables during vfork() operations, which can lead to race conditions where futex waiters are created before the necessary hash table is allocated. This vulnerability allows for potential memory corruption or denial of service when processes fork with shared memory mappings.

Exploitability

Exploitation requires a process that uses vfork() with shared memory mappings and creates futex waiters before the private hash table is allocated, which is moderately difficult to trigger in practice without specific application patterns.

Blast radius

If exploited, this vulnerability could affect any system running Linux kernels that use vfork() with shared memory, potentially leading to system instability or denial of service across multiple processes.

Detection

No reliable host or network indicator is derivable from the published description.

Prioritized remediation

Upgrade to Linux kernel version 6.10 or later which contains the fix for this futex hash allocation issue during vfork() operations.

Analysis generated locally by garnet-coder (no data left the box). AI-assisted — verify against primary sources before acting.