Vulnerability · CVE-2026-98992
namespace: don't copy an unmounted mount tree
Published Oct 23, 2026 · catalog updated Oct 23, 2026 · Linux Linux
Last checked Nov 3, 2026. A connected source was read within the last 7 days.
Check if you run it
No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2026-98992. EPSS is 0.18%. Act only if a listed version of Linux Linux is installed.
Gaps on this record
- No vendor fix or required action is stored. Compare the linked advisory before you change production.
Same product and reporting
- CVE-2026-99260 · Unknown
- CVE-2026-99259 · Unknown
- CVE-2026-99258 · Unknown
- CVE-2026-99257 · Unknown
- CVE-2026-99255 · Unknown
- Severity
- High—
- Known exploitation
- Not in CISA/VulnCheck KEV
- EPSS
- 0.18%
- Remediation
- Advisory link
- Affected products
- Debian:12 linux · Debian:13 linux · Debian:14 linux · vendor Linux Linux
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: namespace: don't copy an unmounted mount tree may_copy_tree() accepts a mount whose root is an nsfs or pidfs file before it checks whether that mount is mounted. This exception exists for nsfs and pidfs mounts. They are part of no mount namespace so neither check_mnt() nor is_mounted() would let them through and bind-mounting a nsfsfd or a pidfd wouldn't work. Problem is that exception also admits a bind mount of such a file when it was lazily unmounted and is only kept alive by a file descriptor: mount --bind /proc/self/ns/net /tmp/x exec 3< /tmp/x umount -l /tmp/x mount --rbind /proc/self/fd/3 /tmp/y With MS_REC or AT_RECURSIVE copy_tree() doesn't stop at the unmounted mount. It copies every mount that stayed attached to it as well. So if you have a bunch of overmounts over the nsfsfd or the pidfd the whole unmounted stack is copied. That's a bug. So refuse to walk an unmounted tree. Copying its root alone stays possible. So a bind mount of a namespace that is gone can still be recreated from a file descriptor on the old one. The file descriptor pins that mount and its root and __has_locked_children() only reads the direct children which don't leave the parent's list without namespace_sem. The internal mounts carry MNT_NS_INTERNAL instead of NULL and are still walked. Copying an unmounted tree recursively fails with EINVAL.
Are you affected?
Enter the version you run. The result uses only the ranges stored on this record.
The check returns affected, not affected, or incomplete. It does not guess a version that is missing from the record.
- Debian:12 linux6.1.106-1, 6.1.106-2, 6.1.106-3
- Debian:13 linux0 → 6.12.113-1
- Debian:14 linux0 → 7.2.11-1
- vendor Linux Linuxversion unspecified
How to fix CVE-2026-98992
Upgrade
CVE-2026-98992 lists a fix boundary at 6.12.113-1. Compare the installed build with that boundary before you change production.
Version check
Fixed in 6.12.113-1 · 4 other ranges on the advisory
Advisory
Open the cve_org record and follow its fix.
Official advisories
What to do
Three questions, each answered from this record only. Confirm the vendor advisory before you patch.
Should you patch?
No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2026-98992. EPSS is 0.18%. Act only if a listed version of Linux Linux is installed.
Which versions are affected?
Compare what you have installed with 6.1.106-1, 6.1.106-2, 6.1.106-3, 0 → 6.12.113-1, 0 → 7.2.11-1. Compare the installed version with the linked vendor advisory before you change production.
What should an analyst verify?
No weakness class is stored. EPSS 0.18%. There is no CISA KEV listing. No Exploit-DB or Metasploit reference is linked. Use the source links for the original advisory.
Technology hubs
Code
The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.
Timeline
Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.
Oct 23, 2026 · Tenable CVE Database
Detected
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: namespace: don't copy an unmounted mount tree may_copy_tree() accepts a mount whose root is an nsfs or pidfs file before it checks whether that mount is mounted. This exception exists for nsfs and pidfs mounts. They are part of no mount namespace so neither check_mnt() nor is_mounted() would let them through and bind-mounting a ns
Oct 23, 2026 · Trivy Vulnerability DB
Fix available
linux fixed in 6.12.113-1; linux fixed in 7.2.11-1
Oct 23, 2026 · Trivy Vulnerability DB
Fix available
linux fixed in 6.12.113-1
Oct 23, 2026 · Trivy Vulnerability DB
Fix available
linux fixed in 7.2.11-1
Oct 23, 2026 · Trivy Vulnerability DB
Updated
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: namespace: don't copy an unmounted mount tree may_copy_tree() accepts a mount whose root is an nsfs or pidfs file before it checks whether that mount is mounted. This exception exists for nsfs and pidfs mounts. They are part of no mount namespace so neither check_mnt() nor is_mounted() would let them through and bind-mounting a ns
Sources
- CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2026-98992
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: namespace: don't copy an unmounted mount tree may_copy_tree() accepts a mount whose root is an nsfs or pidfs file before it checks whether that mount is mounted. This exception exists for nsfs and pidfs mounts. T
cve.org - FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2026-98992
30-day exploitation probability 0.18%
first.org - Tenable CVE DatabaseVulnerability recordCVE-2026-98992
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: namespace: don't copy an unmounted mount tree may_copy_tree() accepts a mount whose root is an nsfs or pidfs file before it checks whether that mount is mounted. This exception exists for nsfs and pidfs mounts. They are part of no mount namespace so neither check_mnt() nor is_mounted() would let them through and bind-mounting a ns
tenable.com - Trivy Vulnerability DBPackage advisoryDEBIAN-CVE-2026-98992osv.dev
References
Freshness
Last verified in this catalog Nov 3, 2026. Significant claims (KEV, EPSS, CVSS, affected ranges) come from the source rows above — open the original publisher for the authoritative advisory.
- FIRST EPSSOct 31, 2026
- CVE.orgOct 25, 2026
- Trivy Vulnerability DBOct 23, 2026
- Tenable CVE DatabaseOct 23, 2026