CVE-2026-89643: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: audit: avoid dropping live tree ref on fs

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CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEWATCHLIST

CVE-2026-89643 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting affected software. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: audit: avoid dropping live tree ref on fsnotify rule autoremove audit_del_rule() is used for both netlink deletion templates and internal fsnotify autoremove. The former passes a parsed template which owns a temporary tree reference; the latter passes the installed entry itself. The unconditional audit_put_tree() at the end of audit_del_rule() assumes the template case. For

Why this priority

Critical severity
CISA SSVC: automatable with total technical impact
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.8 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.7% (top 47%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2026-09-11
Last modified	2026-10-19

Publisher (CNA): kernel.org

Last updated 2026-10-19 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Timeline

2026-09-11 20:19 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-10-19 09:18 UTCUpdated Record last modified

Exact fixes by distribution

Fedora 46 · rubygem-mechanize · FIXED · 2.14.2-1.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-d2e3b5fc5d · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-d2e3b5fc5d

Fedora ELN · opkssh · FIXED · 0.19.1-1.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-45a9706969 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-45a9706969

Ubuntu 20.04 · linux · NO FIX YET

Ubuntu 22.04 · linux · NO FIX YET

Ubuntu 24.04 · linux · NO FIX YET

Ubuntu 20.04 · linux-hwe-5.15 · NO FIX YET

Ubuntu 22.04 · linux-hwe-6.8 · NO FIX YET

Debian 12 · linux · FIXED · 6.1.190-1

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade linux dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' linux)" ge "6.1.190-1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

Debian 13 · linux · FIXED · 6.12.111-1

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade linux dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' linux)" ge "6.12.111-1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

Debian 12 · linux-6.12 · FIXED · 6.12.111-1~deb12u1

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade linux-6.12 dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' linux-6.12)" ge "6.12.111-1~deb12u1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

RHEL 10 · kernel · NO FIX YET

RHEL 6 · kernel · DEFERRED

RHEL 7 · kernel · NO FIX YET

RHEL 7 · kernel-rt · NO FIX YET

RHEL 8 · kernel · NO FIX YET

Amazon Linux 2023 · see advisory · FIXED · ALAS2023-2026-3197 · source

sudo dnf update --advisory=ALAS2023-2026-3197

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2026-89643?

No fixed release is listed yet. Watch the vendor advisory and apply any mitigation shown on this page.

Is CVE-2026-89643 being exploited?

CVE-2026-89643 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2026-89643 affect?

CVE-2026-89643 affects affected software. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: audit: avoid dropping live tree ref on fsnotify rule autoremove audit_del_rule() is used for both netlink deletion templates and internal fsnotify autoremove. The former

How urgent is CVE-2026-89643?

Priority 61/100. Critical severity; CISA SSVC: automatable with total technical impact; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

Software pages

Linux kernel vulnerabilities

References

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