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CVE-2026-98038

Linux: bpf: Keep refcount_acquire nullable for borrowed RCU kptrs

Linux LinuxOperating systems
CVSS
NoneNot scored
ExploitationNo known exploitationNot in CISA KEV, which does not prove it is unexploitedCISA KEV
Exploit odds (EPSS)0.20%Chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 9% of CVEs. Scored 23 Oct 2026FIRST EPSS
Fixed in85bfc8b6db43502444c428eaa2de20bdd2fb9064Also 8d19e2cdfba9ba8c8eb6a459cd666bec00a1d2c6, 85074498228a2500ea8b8039c49cc1ab8ad5328fCVE List
Published25 Sep 2026Updated 21 Oct 2026CVE List

What fixes it

  • 85bfc8b6db43502444c428eaa2de20bdd2fb9064LinuxCVE List
  • 8d19e2cdfba9ba8c8eb6a459cd666bec00a1d2c6LinuxCVE List
  • 85074498228a2500ea8b8039c49cc1ab8ad5328fLinuxCVE 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: Keep refcount_acquire nullable for borrowed RCU kptrs

bpf_refcount_acquire() is fallible for a borrowed reference because the object may have reached a zero refcount. The verifier therefore keeps KF_RET_NULL on the return value unless the argument is an owning reference.

An RCU-protected load of a local kptr is marked MEM_ALLOC, but it only receives NON_OWN_REF when the pointee contains a graph node. A refcounted object without a graph node consequently looks like an owning reference even though the loaded register has no acquired reference state. If the program drops the last real reference while remaining in the RCU critical section, refcount_inc_not_zero() returns NULL while the verifier treats the result as non-NULL.

Only classify the argument as owning when it is backed by a verifier-tracked reference. This retains the non-NULL return for pointers from bpf_obj_new(), bpf_kptr_xchg(), or an earlier successful acquisition, while requiring a NULL check for borrowed RCU kptrs.

[ kkd: Rewrote commit log ]

Text from CVE List

Affected versions 10

  • Linuxaffected: 1b12171533a9bb23cf6fba7262b479028b65e1e8 before 85bfc8b6db43502444c428eaa2de20bdd2fb9064CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 1b12171533a9bb23cf6fba7262b479028b65e1e8 before 8d19e2cdfba9ba8c8eb6a459cd666bec00a1d2c6CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 1b12171533a9bb23cf6fba7262b479028b65e1e8 before 85074498228a2500ea8b8039c49cc1ab8ad5328fCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 1b12171533a9bb23cf6fba7262b479028b65e1e8 before dc36739e5cc9f60485418a910b42bc95339218d2CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 6.8CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: all versions before 6.8CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.12.114 through 6.12.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.18.57 through 6.18.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 7.2.7 through 7.2.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 7.3CVE List

References 4