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CVE-2026-98036

Linux: bpf: Preserve special fields in recycled rhtab elements

Linux LinuxOperating systems
CVSS
NoneNot scored
ExploitationNo known exploitationNot in CISA KEV, which does not prove it is unexploitedCISA KEV
Exploit odds (EPSS)0.15%Chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 4% of CVEs. Scored 23 Oct 2026FIRST EPSS
Fixed in6a5266b8288216b86602ff687d528abfb066dfd8Also 5df46ddcb7b36878c1b691e9057a0509042a2567CVE List
Published25 Sep 2026Updated 19 Oct 2026CVE List

What fixes it

  • 6a5266b8288216b86602ff687d528abfb066dfd8LinuxCVE List
  • 5df46ddcb7b36878c1b691e9057a0509042a2567LinuxCVE List

A fixed version on one release line is not the upgrade target for every line. Check your exact version and any vendor backports.

Description

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

bpf: Preserve special fields in recycled rhtab elements

rhtab_map_update_elem() initializes special fields after obtaining an element from bpf_mem_cache_alloc(). The allocator can return a fresh, zeroed unit, or recycle one from its RCU-pending lists before the registered destructor has run.

A BPF program can retain a map-value pointer after deleting its element and initialize and arm a timer through that pointer. If the deleted unit is recycled, check_and_init_map_value() clears the only pointer to the timer. Neither a later deletion nor rhtab_mem_dtor() can then cancel it, and the callback can run with its key and value pointing into freed memory.

Do not reinitialize special fields on insertion. Fresh allocator units are already zeroed. For recycled units, the special fields are ownership state that must remain visible to the eventual destructor. copy_map_value() already skips those fields, matching the non-preallocated hash-map path and the lifecycle established by commit 275c30bcee66 ("bpf: Don't reinit map value in prealloc_lru_pop").

[ kkd: Split out the fix and rewrote the commit log ]

Text from CVE List

Affected versions 6

  • Linuxaffected: 6905f8601298ecd2d1932a4b4849bf265201118e before 6a5266b8288216b86602ff687d528abfb066dfd8CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 6905f8601298ecd2d1932a4b4849bf265201118e before 5df46ddcb7b36878c1b691e9057a0509042a2567CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 7.2CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: all versions before 7.2CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 7.2.7 through 7.2.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 7.3CVE List

References 2