Evidence-led vulnerability intelligence · 2026-09-25 16:47 IST

CVE-2026-97971

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nstree: check listing permission before taking a namespace reference legitimize_ns() takes a reference on the candidate namespace before may_list_ns() has decided whether the caller may see it. The __free(ns_put) cleanup on the denied path can drop the last reference to a mount namespace while we still hold the rcu read lock, and put_mnt_ns() may sleep there. This is the same problem commit 2ec2aff3c8e2 ("ns: make sure reference are dropped outside of rcu lock") fixed for the put_user() path. Neither ns_requested() nor may_list_ns() needs a reference, both only look at the namespace type and at the caller's own namespaces, so do the checks first and take the reference last. Splat: Voluntary context switch within RCU read-side critical section! WARNING: kernel/rcu/tree_plugin.h:332 at rcu_note_context_switch+0x238/0x2a0, CPU#5: a/3442 CPU: 5 UID: 1000 PID: 3442 Comm: a Not tainted 7.0.0-30-generic #30-Ubuntu PREEMPT(lazy) RIP: 0010:rcu_note_context_switch+0x238/0x2a0 Call Trace: <TASK> __schedule+0xcf/0x650 schedule+0x27/0x90 schedule_preempt_disabled+0x15/0x30 __mutex_lock.constprop.0+0x550/0xaf0 __mutex_lock_slowpath+0x13/0x20 mutex_lock+0x3b/0x50 exp_funnel_lock+0xb2/0x260 synchronize_rcu_expedited+0xe7/0x220 namespace_unlock+0x26a/0x320 put_mnt_ns+0xd3/0x120 mntns_put+0xe/0x20 do_listns+0x13e/0x560 __do_sys_listns+0x126/0x2d0 __x64_sys_listns+0x20/0x30 x64_sys_call+0x2366/0x2390 do_syscall_64+0x105/0x5a0 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e </TASK>

HIGH · 7.8Linux

Executive briefing

A structured intelligence assessment has not yet been generated. The source description is shown above. The background enrichment worker will retry this record.

Assessment: Potential exposure only — validate product, version, configuration and vendor applicability.

Evidence confidence: Not assessed Evidence-derived, not an exploitability verdict

Severity & attack characteristics

7.8 / 10 · CVSS

CVSS vector:
Not supplied

No CVSS vector is currently available in the source record.

Technical explanation & impact

Technical root-cause details are not available in the current source record.

Assess the impact using the published CVSS metrics and the affected vendor component.

Affected products and versions

NVD has not supplied machine-readable vulnerable CPE product/version entries for this CVE. This is an information gap, not proof that no products are affected. Check the vendor advisory references below.

Remediation & validation

  1. Identify exposure by comparing the affected product and version ranges with your asset inventory, SBOM and externally exposed services.
  2. Review the linked vendor security advisory or patch notes. Upgrade to a vendor-confirmed fixed release; do not infer a fixed version from the CVE description.
  3. Until patched, consider restricting network access or disabling the affected feature where operationally safe. These are temporary controls, not a substitute for a vendor fix.
  4. Validate the remediation with a version check and vulnerability rescan, then retain change evidence.

No fixed version is displayed unless it is explicitly established by a vendor advisory. Follow the vendor's release notes for exact product and branch applicability.

Vendor advisories, patches & exploit references

No external references are currently supplied in the CVE record.

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