---
id: CVE-2026-98555
title: >-
  kernel: llc: fix skb UAF and leaks on llc_mac_hdr_init() failure
  (CVE-2026-98555)
summary: >-
  A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's Logical Link Control (LLC) subsystem.
  When an error occurs during network packet header initialization, the kernel
  mistakenly frees the incorrect memory buffer, resulting in a use-after-free
  condition…
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: Linux
affected:
  - >-
    Linux >= 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <
    fec0fe6838a7f45175667701fb51abb23a6ffb1e
  - >-
    Linux >= 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <
    b859ba18b5a1067f71db5618c6a4a70d55fa308b
  - >-
    Linux >= 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <
    8b855b645841b5a04e20339a22bb6d593c9b790d
  - >-
    Linux >= 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <
    d360b31f1a3666579422872aa7d1a751e20b76f9
  - >-
    Linux >= 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <
    060f827aa3dc47939ee306da715cd6700d129616
  - >-
    Linux >= 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <
    41dcae82bece9f106b4dff0ee777bba8d157c8a8
  - >-
    Linux >= 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <
    cb3528ad8bb46fa6252f5d14ced7febddc18515d
  - >-
    Linux >= 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <
    72f9dd522f8d6c5a00be9695c7bb74631eb5069e
  - Linux 2.6.12
published: '2026-10-18'
updated: '2026-10-24'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-24T14:23:45+00:00'
source: CSAF
sourceUrl: 'https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-98555.json'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-98555.json
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-98555'
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2554943'
  - url: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98555'
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98555'
  - url: >-
      https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/security/vulns.git/plain/cve/published/2026/CVE-2026-98555.mbox
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fec0fe6838a7f45175667701fb51abb23a6ffb1e'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b859ba18b5a1067f71db5618c6a4a70d55fa308b'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8b855b645841b5a04e20339a22bb6d593c9b790d'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d360b31f1a3666579422872aa7d1a751e20b76f9'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/060f827aa3dc47939ee306da715cd6700d129616'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/41dcae82bece9f106b4dff0ee777bba8d157c8a8'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cb3528ad8bb46fa6252f5d14ced7febddc18515d'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/72f9dd522f8d6c5a00be9695c7bb74631eb5069e'
tags:
  - csaf
  - vex
  - red-hat
  - cve.org
  - score-dispute
epss: 0.0031
epssPercentile: 0.23661
scores:
  vendor: 4.7
  cna: 7.5
ingestedAt: '2026-10-18T15:45:12.263Z'
---

## Overview

A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's Logical Link Control (LLC) subsystem. When an error occurs during network packet header initialization, the kernel mistakenly frees the incorrect memory buffer, resulting in a use-after-free condition, a double-free, and memory leaks. An attacker could exploit this flaw to crash the system, resulting in a Denial of Service (DoS), or potentially execute arbitrary code.

## Vendor advisories

- **Red Hat VEX** · Moderate · updated 2026-10-24 · [vex](https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-98555.json)

**kernel: llc: fix skb UAF and leaks on llc_mac_hdr_init() failure** — rated Moderate by Red Hat. Released 2026-10-18, updated 2026-10-24.

Not affected:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

## Remediation

Refer to the advisory for fix availability.