---
id: CVE-2026-98553
title: >-
  kernel: autofs: fix sbi->pipe file reference leak in autofs_kill_sb()
  (CVE-2026-98553)
summary: >-
  A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's automount file system (autofs). A local
  user can trigger this issue by initiating an autofs mount operation that fails
  during initialization, causing the kernel to fail to release associated pipe
  file…
severity: low
cvss: 2.3
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L'
cvssSource: vendor
cwe: CWE-772
vendor: Red Hat
product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
affected:
  - enterprise_linux 10
  - enterprise_linux 6
  - enterprise_linux 8
  - enterprise_linux 9
  - openshift_container_platform 4
published: '2026-10-18'
updated: '2026-10-20'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-20T01:30:10+00:00'
source: CSAF
sourceUrl: 'https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-98553.json'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-98553.json
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-98553'
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2555016'
  - url: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98553'
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98553'
  - url: >-
      https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/security/vulns.git/plain/cve/published/2026/CVE-2026-98553.mbox
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3684e2273ba94553af3c5195a46a50214a1a96e3'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0662b1ff9b383d5a233d344e4dc518c27a17f7b8'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/34fa4c1c6e10507dc60e35a82cc9655666946cfd'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a58593b501b7be5ad2bc5181bfa8cd4599be257c'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f1c57f5b16bbc3571bd479c290996c4d4e1fb931'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4bcb371019097d0e357f097902587401c509bbc9'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fc4fd0281ac80b5a3c5a2330f688f0f9d2a420b6'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/aa5e44b29ffe4eaa08cc2237fd65bc2596bc023e'
tags:
  - csaf
  - vex
  - red-hat
  - cve.org
epss: 0.00216
epssPercentile: 0.11992
ingestedAt: '2026-10-18T15:45:12.263Z'
---

## Overview

A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's automount file system (autofs). A local user can trigger this issue by initiating an autofs mount operation that fails during initialization, causing the kernel to fail to release associated pipe file references. Repeated exploitation can permanently leak system resources, ultimately leading to a Denial of Service (DoS).

## Vendor advisories

- **Red Hat VEX** · Low · affected: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 · no fix planned: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, … · updated 2026-10-20 · [vex](https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-98553.json)

**kernel: autofs: fix sbi->pipe file reference leak in autofs_kill_sb()** — rated Low by Red Hat. Released 2026-10-18, updated 2026-10-20.

Affected:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

No fix planned:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

Not affected:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7

## Remediation

Out of support scope