---
id: "CVE-2026-98553"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-98553"]
title: "Linux kernel autofs: failed mounts leak a pipe file reference"
severity: "unknown"
cvss: null
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "runtime"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["autofs", "kernel", "linux", "runtime"]
not_affected_if: []
published_at: "2026-10-18T16:17:07+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:15+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-25T05:23:28+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98553", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:15+00:00"}]
---

# Linux kernel autofs: failed mounts leak a pipe file reference

When an autofs mount fails during setup, the kernel does not release the pipe file it opened, so the reference is leaked. The sources describe a resource leak and do not describe code execution or privilege gain.

_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-2026-98553

## From the sources

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

autofs: fix sbi->pipe file reference leak in autofs_kill_sb()

When autofs_fill_super() fails before clearing AUTOFS_SBI_CATATONIC (for
example, when find_get_pid() fails on an invalid pgrp mount option, or
when an fs_context is closed before mounting), deactivate_locked_super()
invokes autofs_kill_sb() -> autofs_catatonic_mode(sbi).

Because AUTOFS_SBI_CATATONIC is still set in sbi->flags,
autofs_catatonic_mode() returns early without calling fput(sbi->pipe),
permanently leaking the pipe struct file reference.

Explicitly release sbi->pipe in autofs_kill_sb() if it is still non-NULL
after autofs_catatonic_mode().

---

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