---
title: "CVE-2026-89960: Linux Kernel - Use After Free"
description: "Linux kernel contains a use-after-free vulnerability in s390/vfio-ap due to stale pqap_hook pointer in vfio_ap_mdev_set_kvm(), letting attackers cause memory corruption or system instability, exploit requires triggering specific error conditions in KVM instance assignment."
url: https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/CVE-2026-89960/
---

# CVE-2026-89960 Linux Kernel - Use After Free

Linux kernel contains a use-after-free vulnerability in s390/vfio-ap due to stale pqap\_hook pointer in vfio\_ap\_mdev\_set\_kvm(), letting attackers cause memory corruption or system instability, exploit requires triggering specific error conditions in KVM instance assignment.

CVSS base score 8.8 /10

High

CISA KEV

Not listed

Public exploit

None known

Authentication

Required

EPSS

0.17% chance of exploitation in 30 days

[View the NVD record ↗](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-89960)

## Details

Type

Use After Free

Impact

Denial Of Service, Remote Code Execution

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Published

16 September 2026

Updated

15 October 2026

## Vendor fix

Update to the latest Linux kernel version containing the fix for s390/vfio-ap stale pqap\_hook pointer issue.

Patching closes this CVE. It does not tell you which of your systems run the affected version, or what else is exposed alongside them.

## References

- [https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-89960](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-89960)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/13bfc94eef389bd664ffc67b00184919902c938a](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/13bfc94eef389bd664ffc67b00184919902c938a)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4400270ec0348d05dc0439d8f0130853ce7f9e20](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4400270ec0348d05dc0439d8f0130853ce7f9e20)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6a180adafc2a8a5fbe815985c71b2201e93ab5e1](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6a180adafc2a8a5fbe815985c71b2201e93ab5e1)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/eb6cc898501a004c0fa8aab951351d9c959b91cc](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/eb6cc898501a004c0fa8aab951351d9c959b91cc)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fc069d00a0dbef40042fd681554d48dcd5a1d524](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fc069d00a0dbef40042fd681554d48dcd5a1d524)

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## What this record can't tell you

- Whether you run the affected software, and where
- Whether an attacker can actually reach and exploit it
- The misconfigurations that never get a CVE number
- What it would cost the business, ranked into what to fix first

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