---
title: "CVE-2026-90241: Linux Kernel - Use After Free"
description: "Linux kernel iommu/vt-d contains a use-after-free vulnerability caused by improper teardown of scalable-mode context entries on probe failure, letting attackers cause memory corruption, exploit requires device with dma_alias_mask."
url: https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/CVE-2026-90241/
---

# CVE-2026-90241 Linux Kernel - Use After Free

Linux kernel iommu/vt-d contains a use-after-free vulnerability caused by improper teardown of scalable-mode context entries on probe failure, letting attackers cause memory corruption, exploit requires device with dma\_alias\_mask.

CVSS base score 8.2 /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-2026-90241)

## Details

Type

Use After Free

Impact

Use After Free

CVSS vector

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

Published

17 September 2026

Updated

15 October 2026

## Vendor fix

Update to the latest Linux kernel version containing the fix for iommu/vt-d scalable-mode context teardown.

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-2026-90241](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-90241)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c509fb73a1093a15accd7d43a61645d4b520f6ac](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c509fb73a1093a15accd7d43a61645d4b520f6ac)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d0e978ced7429b516358bb4d41d337214768ae98](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d0e978ced7429b516358bb4d41d337214768ae98)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/db5daf25f754cdc20c18525adb88240ece6fdee9](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/db5daf25f754cdc20c18525adb88240ece6fdee9)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/25ac85a9747cd63e1d166ace7b360a2cd9479d9d](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/25ac85a9747cd63e1d166ace7b360a2cd9479d9d)

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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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