CVE-2026-98978

namespace: never expire a locked mount

Published Oct 23, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 8.4 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

namespace: never expire a locked mount

Locked mounts are special. They protect the underlying files and
directories from being revealed. do_umount() refuses to unmount locked
mounts but shrink_submounts() doesn't.

A shrinkable mount can become locked once the owner of a user namespace
puts it beneath a locked mount with MOVE_MOUNT_BENEATH. The locked
property now moves to the mount at the bottom making it possible to
unmount the top mount.

So umount() of an unlocked ancestor now expires the bottom mount first
and the covered directory is revealed:

move_mount(c -> x/hidden, MOVE_MOUNT_BENEATH) = 0
the cover after the lock moved: umount2(x/hidden) = 0
the holder of the lock: umount2(x/hidden) = EINVAL
the root of the copy, busy: umount2(x) = EBUSY
reads x/hidden/secret: "covered-by-root"

So leave a locked mount alone as it dies together with its parent. A
plain umount() of an unlocked mount with a locked one below it is EBUSY
from now on. It's the same for any other locked child. A lazy umount
still takes the whole tree.

mark_mounts_for_expiry() never sees a locked mount. lock_mnt_tree()
leaves a mount on an expiry list alone and nothing else puts a locked
one on such a list. Add an assert for this.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

Source ID Title
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9018-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9018-2 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9019-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9020-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.4, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Linux linux
Vendors & Products Linux linux
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: namespace: never expire a locked mount Locked mounts are special. They protect the underlying files and directories from being revealed. do_umount() refuses to unmount locked mounts but shrink_submounts() doesn't. A shrinkable mount can become locked once the owner of a user namespace puts it beneath a locked mount with MOVE_MOUNT_BENEATH. The locked property now moves to the mount at the bottom making it possible to unmount the top mount. So umount() of an unlocked ancestor now expires the bottom mount first and the covered directory is revealed: move_mount(c -> x/hidden, MOVE_MOUNT_BENEATH) = 0 the cover after the lock moved: umount2(x/hidden) = 0 the holder of the lock: umount2(x/hidden) = EINVAL the root of the copy, busy: umount2(x) = EBUSY reads x/hidden/secret: "covered-by-root" So leave a locked mount alone as it dies together with its parent. A plain umount() of an unlocked mount with a locked one below it is EBUSY from now on. It's the same for any other locked child. A lazy umount still takes the whole tree. mark_mounts_for_expiry() never sees a locked mount. lock_mnt_tree() leaves a mount on an expiry list alone and nothing else puts a locked one on such a list. Add an assert for this.
Title namespace: never expire a locked mount
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Nov 10, 2026, 6:15 PM
Reserved
Sep 25, 2026, 10:25 AM
Status
Received
Published
Oct 23, 2026, 1:17 PM
Modified
Nov 10, 2026, 7:22 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Oct 23, 2026, 12:00 AM