---
title: "CVE-2026-98981: Linux Kernel - Race Condition"
description: "Linux kernel contains a race condition in namespace handling caused by unhashed dentry before detaching mounts, letting attackers cause inconsistent mount visibility during unlink/rmdir/rename operations, exploit requires concurrent mount namespace access."
url: https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/CVE-2026-98981/
---

# CVE-2026-98981 Linux Kernel - Race Condition

Linux kernel contains a race condition in namespace handling caused by unhashed dentry before detaching mounts, letting attackers cause inconsistent mount visibility during unlink/rmdir/rename operations, exploit requires concurrent mount namespace access.

CVSS base score 8.8 /10

High

CISA KEV

Not listed

Public exploit

None known

Authentication

Required

EPSS

0.21% chance of exploitation in 30 days

[View the NVD record ↗](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98981)

## Details

Type

Race Condition

Impact

Denial Of Service, Information Disclosure

CVSS vector

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

Published

23 October 2026

Updated

25 October 2026

## Vendor fix

Update to the latest Linux kernel version containing the fix for dentry unhashed before detach\_mounts.

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-2026-98981](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98981)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d29cd99db3db74cf3447be74d25740981789d461](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d29cd99db3db74cf3447be74d25740981789d461)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/db90eecbde319527aa9480c039d32a0f5fe80574](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/db90eecbde319527aa9480c039d32a0f5fe80574)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/528b383dc35d1e5caf64ddf5d35f983ae543b0d0](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/528b383dc35d1e5caf64ddf5d35f983ae543b0d0)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8300de4aa5d09061bfcf2af5b52c0cdba3873185](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8300de4aa5d09061bfcf2af5b52c0cdba3873185)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8d71bfc9b3fc15d7103e82ea9dc5057541866e46](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8d71bfc9b3fc15d7103e82ea9dc5057541866e46)

[← All CVEs](https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/)

## 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

Panop answers these inside your environment, for this CVE and every other finding.

[Book a demo](https://panop.io/demo)