Red Hat RHEL 8 Kernel Updates Address IPv4 TCP and Other Flaws
Tech GuruQuick Answer
The RHEL 8 kernel and real-time kernel updates address CVE-2026-98432; a separate real-time erratum fixes six additional kernel issues. Match installed packages and support entitlements to the errata, apply the supported fixes, validate service operation, and retain evidence.
Confirm Scope And Apply The Supported Remediation
What to do now: Identify kernel flavor, architecture, enabled RHEL repositories, IPv4 listeners, real-time workloads, cluster roles and maintenance owners. Match product, architecture, package epoch/version/release and support stream to the individual erratum; apply each CVE only where its documented prerequisites hold. Install the latest applicable signed kernel packages and reboot. For CVE-2026-98432, the listed fixed builds are 4.18.0-553.182.1.el8_10 and 4.18.0-553.182.1.rt7.523.el8_10. Confirm the running kernel after reboot; test network paths, failover and real-time latency, then retain package and reboot evidence.
Last verified: 2026-11-02 UTC. Recheck the authoritative advisory and supported distribution channel before changing production.
Scope And Authority
| Product scope | RHEL 8 kernel, Real Time and NFV packages |
|---|---|
| Advisory | RHSA-2026:93415 / RHSA-2026:93414 / RHSA-2026:93437 |
| CVEs | CVE-2026-63922, CVE-2026-63924, CVE-2026-64109, CVE-2026-72083, CVE-2026-74283, CVE-2026-93787, CVE-2026-98432 |
| Authoritative release date | 2026-11-02T01:51:41Z (latest release in this group; individual release dates below) |
| Authority revision date | 2026-11-02T01:52:23Z (latest authority revision in this group) |
| Affected versions | Advisory-listed packages before the corresponding fixed builds on Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8); Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8); Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8); Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8). |
| Fixed version | kernel-0:4.18.0-553.182.1.el8_10.src; kernel-rt-0:4.18.0-553.181.1.rt7.522.el8_10.src; kernel-rt-0:4.18.0-553.182.1.rt7.523.el8_10.src |
| CVSS base score | 4.7-9.8 (CVSS v3.1; CVE-specific) |
| CVSS severity | Medium to Critical |
| Exploitation status | The cited Red Hat advisories do not state that these issues are being maliciously exploited.; no exploitation claim is inferred. |
Authority-Specific Scope And Version Evidence
| RHSA-2026:93415 | Released 2026-11-01T20:52:03Z; revised 2026-11-01T22:40:53Z. Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8), Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8). Fixed source package families: kernel-rt-0:4.18.0-553.182.1.rt7.523.el8_10.src. CVSS: 9.8 (CVSS v3.1; CVE-specific); Critical. Vendor rating: Critical. |
|---|---|
| RHSA-2026:93414 | Released 2026-11-01T21:39:31Z; revised 2026-11-01T22:40:53Z. Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8), Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8). Fixed source package families: kernel-0:4.18.0-553.182.1.el8_10.src. CVSS: 9.8 (CVSS v3.1; CVE-specific); Critical. Vendor rating: Critical. |
| RHSA-2026:93437 | Released 2026-11-02T01:51:41Z; revised 2026-11-02T01:52:23Z. Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8), Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8). Fixed source package families: kernel-rt-0:4.18.0-553.181.1.rt7.522.el8_10.src. CVSS: 4.7-8.8 (CVSS v3.1; CVE-specific); Medium to High. Vendor rating: Important. |
What Changed
The RHEL 8 kernel and real-time kernel updates address CVE-2026-98432; a separate real-time erratum fixes six additional kernel issues.
What To Validate Now
- Inventory. Identify kernel flavor, architecture, enabled RHEL repositories, IPv4 listeners, real-time workloads, cluster roles and maintenance owners.
- Establish applicability. Match product, architecture, package epoch/version/release and support stream to the individual erratum; apply each CVE only where its documented prerequisites hold.
- Remediate. Install the latest applicable signed kernel packages and reboot. For CVE-2026-98432, the listed fixed builds are 4.18.0-553.182.1.el8_10 and 4.18.0-553.182.1.rt7.523.el8_10.
- Validate. Confirm the running kernel after reboot; test network paths, failover and real-time latency, then retain package and reboot evidence.
- Retain evidence. Preserve asset and owner identifiers, the applicability decision, before-and-after versions, change approval, installation output, validation results, and any exception or rollback record.
Operational Cautions
RHSA-2026:93437 was issued later but names an older real-time build for different CVEs. Do not downgrade from the newer Critical fix or assume that its later advisory date makes it sufficient for CVE-2026-98432. CVSS values are the authority-provided per-CVE scores, not a score for the whole update. Retain the advisory, inventory, approval, package and validation records.
Evidence To Retain
- Exact product, release stream, package or application version, enabled feature, environment, and accountable owner.
- UTC timestamps, authority revision, approved change record, installer or package-manager output, and resulting version.
- Relevant logs and monitoring evidence, test results, exceptions, compensating controls, and rollback decisions.
Related TechGeeks Resources
Authoritative References
- Red Hat CSAF evidence: rhsa-2026_93415.json
- Red Hat CSAF evidence: rhsa-2026_93414.json
- Red Hat CSAF evidence: rhsa-2026_93437.json
Correction policy: If the authority changes affected versions, fixed versions, severity, exploitation information, mitigations, or required action, TechGeeks will update this notice and its verification date.
