---
id: CVE-2026-98491
title: >-
  kernel: net: openvswitch: conntrack: avoid modifying shared unconfirmed ct
  entry (CVE-2026-98491)
summary: >-
  A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's Open vSwitch subsystem. When cloned
  network packet buffers share an unconfirmed connection tracking entry,
  committing the entry with conflicting extensions can trigger a use-after-free
  memory issue du…
severity: medium
cvss: 5.9
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/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 7
  - enterprise_linux 8
  - enterprise_linux 9
  - openshift_container_platform 4
published: '2026-10-18'
updated: '2026-10-24'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-24T14:27:52+00:00'
source: CSAF
sourceUrl: 'https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-98491.json'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-98491.json
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-98491'
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2554833'
  - url: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98491'
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98491'
  - url: >-
      https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/security/vulns.git/plain/cve/published/2026/CVE-2026-98491.mbox
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e0fa5ea434b7e8467ef3adc64e3858b1ca2a642d'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/37e3c878b183a115f9a114067f9ef3b408ad27fb'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/707c2dc77891a874f4e8c52c285a511079164ec8'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/de41ee24f77b0fc45397db3e277cae2adbd43dfe'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/55e5256adf3940e71802e2f749cacf81518726b0'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e2829ae5459ddb5fce526b2e84697edf6c0c3cef'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/457e0df1b5711fbeb7ba1b6bfd826f5ef30e7e55'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/26b2bd70d22457556e2fa01cbf1192cb1a94d619'
tags:
  - csaf
  - vex
  - red-hat
  - cve.org
epss: 0.00169
epssPercentile: 0.06261
scores:
  vendor: 5.9
  cna: 7.8
ingestedAt: '2026-10-18T15:45:12.293Z'
---

## Overview

A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's Open vSwitch subsystem. When cloned network packet buffers share an unconfirmed connection tracking entry, committing the entry with conflicting extensions can trigger a use-after-free memory issue during cleanup. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to cause memory corruption, leading to a system crash and Denial of Service (DoS), or potentially execute arbitrary code.

## Vendor advisories

- **Red Hat VEX** · Moderate · affected: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 · no fix planned: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, … · updated 2026-10-24 · [vex](https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-98491.json)

**kernel: net: openvswitch: conntrack: 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 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

No fix planned:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

Not affected:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6

## Remediation

Fix deferred