Linux kernel TCP flaw affects Ubuntu, RHEL and other distributions
Oct 29, 2026 · Summarized by Fundy Tech from 2 sources
A Linux kernel TCP bug with a 9.8 CVSS score affects Ubuntu, Red Hat Enterprise Linux and other distributions. Anthropic says its model wrote an exploit that can run commands as root.
Key points
- The flaw is tracked as CVE-2026-98432.
- Ubuntu and RHEL had not released fixed kernels as of October 29.
- The bug can let a remote attacker run commands as root on some systems.
Why it matters
If you run Linux servers, this could expose critical systems to takeover or crashes. Small businesses using Linux for hosting, internal tools or cloud workloads should check vendor updates quickly. Households are less likely to be affected directly, but shared services could be disrupted if providers lag on patching.
Who’s affected: Linux servers and distributions
What to do
- Check your Linux vendor’s advisory and apply kernel updates.
- Prioritise internet-facing servers and systems using MPTCP.
- Watch for updates from Ubuntu, Red Hat and other distributions.
Vulnerability IDs
Original reporting
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