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CVE-2026-98076

Linux: tracing/probes: Fix use-after-free on field name/type of events with multiple probes

Linux LinuxOperating systems
CVSS
NoneNot scored
ExploitationNo known exploitationNot in CISA KEV, which does not prove it is unexploitedCISA KEV
Exploit odds (EPSS)0.21%Chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 10% of CVEs. Scored 23 Oct 2026FIRST EPSS
Fixed in38305e1b8b1ec27eef8f2d4e461e3b6c8624d494Also 6d6118c17bc791594cbfd9cc4936ee21073b894a, 9379e193826f23876daccb3351fab89c87084ba3 and 4 moreCVE List
Published25 Sep 2026Updated 19 Oct 2026CVE List

What fixes it

  • 38305e1b8b1ec27eef8f2d4e461e3b6c8624d494LinuxCVE List
  • 6d6118c17bc791594cbfd9cc4936ee21073b894aLinuxCVE List
  • 9379e193826f23876daccb3351fab89c87084ba3LinuxCVE List
  • 68ae584169c7a41fc9bc4677c1d368983cf44b21LinuxCVE List
  • 411c9080a776577664531b4f7d3ee53b7a747ba8LinuxCVE List
  • 178ff2e011e21fbebdf57f5d58a408fe59136d82LinuxCVE List
Show all 7 fixed versions
  • 86b7a239ec6b14a7544200ede85474c6f5526049LinuxCVE 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:

tracing/probes: Fix use-after-free on field name/type of events with multiple probes

The fields of a probe-based dynamic event (kprobe, uprobe, eprobe and fprobe events) are created in traceprobe_define_arg_fields() by handing the probe_arg name/type strings to trace_define_field(), which only stores the pointers without copying. Those strings are owned by the trace_probe and are freed when that probe is removed.

An event can have several probes attached. The field list is defined only once, by the first probe that registers the event, but it is kept alive by any surviving sibling probe. Deleting just that first probe by symbol -

primary A: fields are defined from A's args

echo 'p:kprobes/ev vfs_read a1=$arg1' > kprobe_events

append B: shares A's event call

echo 'p:kprobes/ev vfs_write a1=$arg1' >> kprobe_events

delete only A (matched by symbol), B survives

echo '-:kprobes/ev vfs_read' >> kprobe_events

frees A's args (trace_probe_cleanup() -> traceprobe_free_probe_arg()), but trace_probe_unlink() keeps the trace_probe_event because the probe list is not empty. The event call stays registered via B while its fields now reference freed memory. Any field lookup then reads it, e.g.

echo 'a1 == 1' > events/kprobes/ev/filter

BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in strcmp+0xa7/0xb0 Call Trace: strcmp trace_find_event_field parse_pred process_preds create_filter apply_event_filter event_filter_write

field->name references parg->name (kstrdup'd, freed with the probe) and, for array arguments, field->type references parg->fmt (kmalloc'd, freed with the probe) - the scalar type otherwise points at the static fmttype rodata, which is safe.

Have traceprobe_define_arg_fields() duplicate the name and type strings and anchor the copies on the trace_probe_event, which embeds the event call and outlives every individual probe; trace_probe_event_free() releases them.

The reproducer above triggers reliably; the field lookup and the delete both run under event_mutex, so this is a dangling reference after removal rather than a race.

The issue was found by the autokbug dynamic kernel fuzzer at Tencent Yunding Lab.

Text from CVE List

Affected versions 18

  • Linuxaffected: ca89bc071d5e4e981dcc52e0ca90f4500d332e42 before 38305e1b8b1ec27eef8f2d4e461e3b6c8624d494CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: ca89bc071d5e4e981dcc52e0ca90f4500d332e42 before 6d6118c17bc791594cbfd9cc4936ee21073b894aCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: ca89bc071d5e4e981dcc52e0ca90f4500d332e42 before a2510fcaad92b09b34574c97e8356234c6a84a9aCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: ca89bc071d5e4e981dcc52e0ca90f4500d332e42 before 9379e193826f23876daccb3351fab89c87084ba3CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: ca89bc071d5e4e981dcc52e0ca90f4500d332e42 before 68ae584169c7a41fc9bc4677c1d368983cf44b21CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: ca89bc071d5e4e981dcc52e0ca90f4500d332e42 before 411c9080a776577664531b4f7d3ee53b7a747ba8CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: ca89bc071d5e4e981dcc52e0ca90f4500d332e42 before 178ff2e011e21fbebdf57f5d58a408fe59136d82CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: ca89bc071d5e4e981dcc52e0ca90f4500d332e42 before 86b7a239ec6b14a7544200ede85474c6f5526049CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 5.4CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: all versions before 5.4CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 5.10.271 through 5.10.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 5.15.222 through 5.15.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.1.189 through 6.1.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.6.158 through 6.6.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.12.111 through 6.12.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.18.53 through 6.18.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 7.2.7 through 7.2.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 7.3CVE List

References 8