CVE-2026-98450
Description
A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's Server Message Block (SMB) client. This vulnerability can lead to a Denial of Service (DoS) through resource exhaustion caused by unclosed remote file handles. When processing compound requests, an interrupted operation or synchronization failure causes previously opened file handles to be released without issuing a close command to the server. A local user can exploit this behavior during compound file operations to leave remote handles open indefinitely, potentially exhausting server connections and resources.
Statement
This vulnerability is rated as having a Low impact because exploitation requires existing local system access along with active CIFS/SMB client mounts, and the consequence is limited to accumulating unclosed handles on the remote file server rather than executing code or compromising kernel memory. In default Red Hat Enterprise Linux deployments, the CIFS kernel module is not loaded unless an administrator explicitly mounts a remote network share. Consequently, environments that do not interact with SMB file systems are not exposed to this resource exhaustion issue.
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details
Info alert:Important note
CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).
The following CVSS metrics and score provided are preliminary and subject to review.
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 3.3 | N/A | N/A |
| Attack Vector | Local | N/A | N/A |
| Attack Complexity | Low | N/A | N/A |
| Privileges Required | Low | N/A | N/A |
| User Interaction | None | N/A | N/A |
| Scope | Unchanged | N/A | N/A |
| Confidentiality | None | N/A | N/A |
| Integrity Impact | None | N/A | N/A |
| Availability Impact | Low | N/A | N/A |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Availability
Technical Impact: DoS: Resource Consumption (Other); DoS: Resource Consumption (Memory); DoS: Resource Consumption (CPU)
An attacker that can influence the allocation of resources that are not properly released could deplete the available resource pool and prevent all other processes from accessing the same type of resource. Frequently-affected resources include memory, CPU, disk space, power or battery, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
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