---
id: CVE-2026-98441
title: >-
  kernel: net/sched: act_ct: avoid modifying shared unconfirmed ct entry
  (CVE-2026-98441)
summary: >-
  A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's traffic control conntrack action module
  (act_ct). An attacker capable of sending network traffic through affected
  packet filters could trigger a Denial of Service (DoS) or kernel memory
  corruption. Th…
severity: medium
cvss: 4.7
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'
cvssSource: vendor
cwe: CWE-825
vendor: Red Hat
product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
affected:
  - enterprise_linux 10
  - enterprise_linux 9
  - openshift_container_platform 4
published: '2026-10-18'
updated: '2026-10-24'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-24T14:23:03+00:00'
source: CSAF
sourceUrl: 'https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-98441.json'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-98441.json
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-98441'
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2554869'
  - url: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98441'
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98441'
  - url: >-
      https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/security/vulns.git/plain/cve/published/2026/CVE-2026-98441.mbox
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c812bb4aea13d385d048b5b24756aee2edf6f99e'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2b783c562c3238ff50c34fd7a72a735c9cc73d9a'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4a04ed91575819fb1859311113e95700b709bec7'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b097d9d7a5b09c8ec5c4c1a08e35ac5a66b06b44'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f85009dfcd65e5969526b0db7a49b5413746e630'
tags:
  - csaf
  - vex
  - red-hat
  - cve.org
  - score-dispute
epss: 0.00133
epssPercentile: 0.02846
scores:
  vendor: 4.7
  cna: 7.8
ingestedAt: '2026-10-18T15:45:12.309Z'
---

## Overview

A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's traffic control conntrack action module (act_ct). An attacker capable of sending network traffic through affected packet filters could trigger a Denial of Service (DoS) or kernel memory corruption. This issue arises when cloned network packets sharing an unconfirmed connection tracking entry are modified, corrupting extension pointers during packet processing. This improper handling results in a use-after-free (UAF) condition upon cleanup, causing the operating system to crash.

## Vendor advisories

- **Red Hat VEX** · Moderate · affected: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 · no fix planned: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 · updated 2026-10-24 · [vex](https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-98441.json)

**kernel: net/sched: act_ct: avoid modifying shared unconfirmed ct entry** — rated Moderate by Red Hat. Released 2026-10-18, updated 2026-10-24.

Affected:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

No fix planned:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

Not affected:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

## Remediation

Fix deferred