---
id: CVE-2026-98842
title: >-
  kernel: module: fix lost error code from codetag_load_module()
  (CVE-2026-98842)
summary: >-
  A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's module loading subsystem. When an error
  occurs during module initialization, the kernel fails to propagate the error
  code and incorrectly reports a successful load after the module has already
  been cl…
severity: medium
cvss: 4.4
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'
cvssSource: vendor
cwe: CWE-393
vendor: Red Hat
product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
affected:
  - enterprise_linux 10
published: '2026-10-18'
updated: '2026-10-23'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-23T21:55:30+00:00'
source: CSAF
sourceUrl: 'https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-98842.json'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-98842.json
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-98842'
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2555218'
  - url: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98842'
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98842'
  - url: >-
      https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/security/vulns.git/plain/cve/published/2026/CVE-2026-98842.mbox
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/258310d59a82ea4854bfd9138682bbaac1153b19'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bfc721eef5c13704efe6864c7da2ad4b0d75f60a'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c79cf15eb35a4c703bf18f8c33c47e80dd660f8e'
tags:
  - csaf
  - vex
  - red-hat
  - cve.org
epss: 0.00166
epssPercentile: 0.05773
ingestedAt: '2026-10-18T16:47:32.467Z'
---

## Overview

A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's module loading subsystem. When an error occurs during module initialization, the kernel fails to propagate the error code and incorrectly reports a successful load after the module has already been cleaned up. A local privileged user could trigger this vulnerability to cause kernel instability, memory leaks, or a Denial of Service (DoS).

## Vendor advisories

- **Red Hat VEX** · Moderate · affected: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 · no fix planned: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 · updated 2026-10-23 · [vex](https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-98842.json)

**kernel: module: fix lost error code from codetag_load_module()** — rated Moderate by Red Hat. Released 2026-10-18, updated 2026-10-23.

Affected:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10

No fix planned:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10

Not affected:

- 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

Fix deferred