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Response snapshot Oct 30, 2026, 17:36 UTC

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VulnerabilityCVE-2026-97536

Linux kernel: scsi: qla2xxx: Fix use-after-free of qpair work on queue teardown

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: scsi: qla2xxx: Fix use-after-free of qpair work on queue teardown The response queue MSI-X handler qla2xxx_msix_rsp_q() schedules qla_do_work() via queue_work(ha->wq, &qpair->q_work).

At a glance

Exploited
Not known
Severity
7.5 High (CVSS 3.1)
Chance of exploitation
0.3% in the next 30 days
Sources
1 source

What to do

Check the vendor advisory for affected versions and fixes.

Read NVD CVE-2026-97536 (opens a new tab)

What happened

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

scsi: qla2xxx: Fix use-after-free of qpair work on queue teardown

The response queue MSI-X handler qla2xxx_msix_rsp_q() schedules qla_do_work() via queue_work(ha->wq, &qpair->q_work). qla_do_work() dereferences the qpair (vha, rsp) and takes qpair->qp_lock.

During teardown, qla2xxx_delete_qpair() deletes the response queue, which calls free_irq() in qla25xx_free_rsp_que(), and then frees the queue and the qpair. free_irq() waits for running hardirq handlers but does not cancel work already placed on ha->wq. A still-pending q_work then runs qla_do_work() against the freed qpair and response queue, causing a use-after-free.

Continue reading

This is especially likely during full adapter teardown, where destroy_workqueue(ha->wq) forces pending work to run after the queue pairs have been freed.

Flush the work item with cancel_work_sync() in qla25xx_free_rsp_que() after free_irq() has released the interrupt (so no new work can be queued) and before the response queue and qpair memory are freed (so the flushed handler still sees valid memory). Guard on rsp->qpair and ha->wq to match the INIT_WORK() condition and avoid operating on an uninitialized work_struct.

Scores and how they were measured

CVSS base severity

7.5

Version 3.1As of

CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Measurement source (opens a new tab)

How bad it is if exploited. Not a prediction of exploitation or proof you are exposed.

EPSS probability

0.3%

Scored Percentile 21.5%

Model and measurement source (opens a new tab)

A model's estimate of exploitation in the next 30 days, not certainty or your own risk.

Related technology

Sources

  1. Primary source

    NVD CVE-2026-97536 (opens a new tab)

    NVD record: description, CVSS (the CNA score is preferred), affected products, and publication date. Not evidence of exploitation.

    Published Checked

  2. Primary source

    NVD CVE API 2.0 (opens a new tab)

    The NVD API page that supplied this CVE record.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

  3. Primary source

    NVD CVE API 2.0 (opens a new tab)

    The NVD API page that supplied this CVE record.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

  4. Primary source

    FIRST measured EPSS score (opens a new tab)

    Measured EPSS probability and percentile for CVE-2026-97536, scored 2026-10-30. This is a model estimate, not proof of exposure.

    Published Checked

Cite this record

For factual claims, cite the primary sources above; cite KEVWire for its compilation, dates, and classifications.

APA

KEVWire. (2026, October 30). Linux kernel: scsi: qla2xxx: Fix use-after-free of qpair work on queue teardown (CVE-2026-97536). https://kevwire.com/record/CVE-2026-97536

MLA

"Linux kernel: scsi: qla2xxx: Fix use-after-free of qpair work on queue teardown (CVE-2026-97536)." KEVWire, 30 Oct. 2026, kevwire.com/record/CVE-2026-97536.

Chicago

KEVWire. "Linux kernel: scsi: qla2xxx: Fix use-after-free of qpair work on queue teardown (CVE-2026-97536)." Last modified October 30, 2026. https://kevwire.com/record/CVE-2026-97536.

Evidence summary (plain text)

Linux kernel: scsi: qla2xxx: Fix use-after-free of qpair work on queue teardown (Sep 25, 2026).
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

scsi: qla2xxx: Fix use-after-free of qpair work on queue teardown

The response queue MSI-X handler qla2xxx_msix_rsp_q() schedules
qla_do_work() via queue_work(ha->wq, &qpair->q_work). qla_do_work()
dereferences the qpair (vha, rsp) and takes qpair->qp_lock.

During teardown, qla2xxx_delete_qpair() deletes the response queue, which
calls free_irq() in qla25xx_free_rsp_que(), and then frees the queue and
the qpair. free_irq() waits for running hardirq handlers but does not
cancel work already placed on ha->wq.
CVSS 7.5 (version 3.1; evidence as of Oct 30, 2026; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97536).
EPSS 0.3% for the following 30 days, scored Oct 30, 2026 (https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2026-97536&date=2026-10-30).
Sources:
NVD CVE-2026-97536: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97536
NVD CVE API 2.0: https://services.nvd.nist.gov/rest/json/cves/2.0?lastModStartDate=2026-10-30T13:06:45.042Z&lastModEndDate=2026-10-30T14:50:57.069Z&resultsPerPage=500&startIndex=1000
NVD CVE API 2.0: https://services.nvd.nist.gov/rest/json/cves/2.0?lastModStartDate=2026-10-30T12:22:16.957Z&lastModEndDate=2026-10-30T14:05:57.373Z&resultsPerPage=500&startIndex=1000
FIRST measured EPSS score: https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2026-97536&date=2026-10-30
Record ID: CVE-2026-97536.
Record origin: Ingested record.
AI evidence: Not assessed.
Known exploitation: Not assessed.
Zero-day status: Not assessed. KEV membership alone does not establish zero-day status.
About this data

This record was ingested from a data source. Retrieved: Oct 30, 2026, 14:52 UTC. Ingestion is not an independent editorial investigation.

NVD status: Received. Publication in the NVD is not evidence of exploitation.

A CISA KEV listing documents known exploitation, not necessarily a zero-day; absence from the catalog does not prove a vulnerability has never been exploited.

Technology tags indicate possible relevance, not verified exposure. Confirm the affected product, version, and configuration against your own inventory; KEVWire does not scan your systems.

A personal reading checklist on this device, not verified remediation.

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Record details

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