All vulnerabilities
CVE-2026-98978

Linux: namespace: never expire a locked mount

Linux LinuxOperating systems
CVSS
NoneNot scored
ExploitationNo known exploitationNot in CISA KEV, which does not prove it is unexploitedCISA KEV
Exploit odds (EPSS)No scoreNo FIRST EPSS score in this snapshot yet
Fixed in6b8dc3713a76346d212abab46cbfc8d7070f534cFixed versionCVE List
Published23 Oct 2026Updated 23 Oct 2026CVE List

What fixes it

  • 6b8dc3713a76346d212abab46cbfc8d7070f534cLinuxCVE List

A fixed version on one release line is not the upgrade target for every line. Check your exact version and any vendor backports.

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

namespace: never expire a locked mount

Locked mounts are special. They protect the underlying files and directories from being revealed. do_umount() refuses to unmount locked mounts but shrink_submounts() doesn't.

A shrinkable mount can become locked once the owner of a user namespace puts it beneath a locked mount with MOVE_MOUNT_BENEATH. The locked property now moves to the mount at the bottom making it possible to unmount the top mount.

So umount() of an unlocked ancestor now expires the bottom mount first and the covered directory is revealed:

move_mount(c -> x/hidden, MOVE_MOUNT_BENEATH) = 0 the cover after the lock moved: umount2(x/hidden) = 0 the holder of the lock: umount2(x/hidden) = EINVAL the root of the copy, busy: umount2(x) = EBUSY reads x/hidden/secret: "covered-by-root"

So leave a locked mount alone as it dies together with its parent. A plain umount() of an unlocked mount with a locked one below it is EBUSY from now on. It's the same for any other locked child. A lazy umount still takes the whole tree.

mark_mounts_for_expiry() never sees a locked mount. lock_mnt_tree() leaves a mount on an expiry list alone and nothing else puts a locked one on such a list. Add an assert for this.

Text from CVE List

Affected versions 8

  • Linuxaffected: 5ff9d8a65ce80efb509ce4e8051394e9ed2cd942 before 6b8dc3713a76346d212abab46cbfc8d7070f534cCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 5ff9d8a65ce80efb509ce4e8051394e9ed2cd942 before d23265a12e4991ce7aedce670c0b6b598cadb644CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 5ff9d8a65ce80efb509ce4e8051394e9ed2cd942 before f78ddcc872248c7aa1d7e904928441a0be4c6d5dCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 3.12CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: all versions before 3.12CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.18.57 through 6.18.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 7.2.11 through 7.2.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 7.3CVE List

References 3