---
id: CVE-2026-98616
title: >-
  kernel: eth: fbnic: reset num_napi when the napi vectors are freed
  (CVE-2026-98616)
summary: >-
  A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's fbnic driver. This flaw allows a local
  user to trigger a kernel crash, resulting in a Denial of Service (DoS). During
  power management suspend or failed resume operations, the driver frees
  interrupt v…
severity: medium
cvss: 4.1
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'
cvssSource: vendor
cwe: CWE-476
vendor: Red Hat
product: Linux
affected:
  - >-
    Linux >= bc6107771bb4be3009168cfda24d22131c026fe8 <
    c5b5aee41b9f5ed0743344be1c7b544555fa3cb9
  - >-
    Linux >= bc6107771bb4be3009168cfda24d22131c026fe8 <
    4f4b767ffea7653a00904383908536e754f8ef5b
  - >-
    Linux >= bc6107771bb4be3009168cfda24d22131c026fe8 <
    4bcc4a92c603fe7f062cea22e20da2e0ad6b12c3
  - Linux 6.11
published: '2026-10-18'
updated: '2026-10-21'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-21T09:23:37+00:00'
source: CSAF
sourceUrl: 'https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-98616.json'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-98616.json
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-98616'
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2555019'
  - url: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98616'
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98616'
  - url: >-
      https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/security/vulns.git/plain/cve/published/2026/CVE-2026-98616.mbox
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c5b5aee41b9f5ed0743344be1c7b544555fa3cb9'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4f4b767ffea7653a00904383908536e754f8ef5b'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4bcc4a92c603fe7f062cea22e20da2e0ad6b12c3'
tags:
  - csaf
  - vex
  - red-hat
  - cve.org
epss: 0.00166
epssPercentile: 0.05774
ingestedAt: '2026-10-18T15:45:12.239Z'
---

## Overview

A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's fbnic driver. This flaw allows a local user to trigger a kernel crash, resulting in a Denial of Service (DoS). During power management suspend or failed resume operations, the driver frees interrupt vectors without clearing the active vector counter. When the network interface is subsequently closed or detached, the driver attempts to access the freed structures, leading to a null pointer dereference.

## Vendor advisories

- **Red Hat VEX** · Moderate · updated 2026-10-21 · [vex](https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-98616.json)

**kernel: eth: fbnic: reset num_napi when the napi vectors are freed** — rated Moderate by Red Hat. Released 2026-10-18, updated 2026-10-21.

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.