CVE-2026-98130

/// Technical description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

sctp: fix a TOCTOU race in SCTP_CMD_TIMER_START

The SCTP_CMD_TIMER_START handler checks timer_pending() before calling

timer_reduce(). The timer can expire and detach between these operations,

causing timer_reduce() to rearm the timer without taking the association

reference required for the newly armed timer.

The timer callback later unconditionally drops its association reference,

which can leave the association reference count unbalanced and result in

use-after-free during association teardown.

Use the return value of timer_reduce() to determine whether the timer was

actually armed. Take the association reference only when timer_reduce()

successfully starts a new timer, closing the race between checking the

timer state and rearming it.

This issue was reported by Nico Yip (@_cyeaa_) working with TrendAI Zero

Day Initiative.

/// Remediation

Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from linux. Update linux_kernel to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.

/// Affected products

/// References