---
id: "CVE-2026-98448"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-98448"]
title: "Linux kernel XFS: failed orphanage chown leaks a directory inode reference"
severity: "unknown"
cvss: null
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["infrastructure", "kernel", "linux", "xfs"]
not_affected_if: []
published_at: "2026-10-18T16:16:55+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:15+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-25T05:27:25+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98448", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:15+00:00"}]
---

# Linux kernel XFS: failed orphanage chown leaks a directory inode reference

When changing ownership of the XFS orphanage directory fails, the kernel keeps an extra reference to that directory inode that is never released. The sources describe a reference leak and do not state a direct way for an attacker to run code or read data.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T21:57:15+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98448

## From the sources

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

xfs: release orphanage dir inode if chown fails

LOLLM points out that we leak the igrab'd reference to the orphanage
directory inode if chowning it fails.  Fix that.

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_