---
title: "CVE-2026-97940: Linux Kernel - Use After Free"
description: "Linux kernel contains a use-after-free vulnerability in the IPv6 fib6 walker caused by improper handling of walker unlinking in ipv6_route_iter_active and fib6_del_route, letting attackers cause memory corruption, exploit requires triggering route deletions."
url: https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/CVE-2026-97940/
---

# CVE-2026-97940 Linux Kernel - Use After Free

Linux kernel contains a use-after-free vulnerability in the IPv6 fib6 walker caused by improper handling of walker unlinking in ipv6\_route\_iter\_active and fib6\_del\_route, letting attackers cause memory corruption, exploit requires triggering route deletions.

CVSS base score 7.8 /10

High

CISA KEV

Not listed

Public exploit

None known

Authentication

Required

EPSS

0.16% chance of exploitation in 30 days

[View the NVD record ↗](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97940)

## 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:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Published

25 September 2026

Updated

15 October 2026

## Vendor fix

Update to the latest Linux kernel version containing the fix.

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-2026-97940](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97940)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9a3f73d62c86271614eda4c43315230896a37018](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9a3f73d62c86271614eda4c43315230896a37018)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0eede1689610e9eeaf729ba86fd1321799eb91a0](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0eede1689610e9eeaf729ba86fd1321799eb91a0)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/19b4ed644d68098cc62ab612727f40d30f43476c](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/19b4ed644d68098cc62ab612727f40d30f43476c)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4553cfafa8d05c4ce20b1d18f79d9bb3b303fc02](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4553cfafa8d05c4ce20b1d18f79d9bb3b303fc02)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b89b691dd00bf39b9ba39ab9446f8c62f419fa7b](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b89b691dd00bf39b9ba39ab9446f8c62f419fa7b)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/05b687ee04f816658f4a9cf586f4d2f129157943](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/05b687ee04f816658f4a9cf586f4d2f129157943)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/14fdaba201fdff92a3e45994e02bccda409cb19d](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/14fdaba201fdff92a3e45994e02bccda409cb19d)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/63407cddabc5992b5ac03af165559f4a1968a032](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/63407cddabc5992b5ac03af165559f4a1968a032)

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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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