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CVE-2026-98398

Linux: locking/lockdep: Invalidate stale class_cache entries for zapped classes

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 11% of CVEs. Scored 23 Oct 2026FIRST EPSS
Fixed in1c9d664e2e067fca69e5a41d68e23bbc66a583feAlso 6bc345f6d81ebe22e0f355c2a21d7e29691f9332, 02c6be7d675b21d81f0ba3a524346850a8c0e3bfCVE List
Published14 Oct 2026Updated 19 Oct 2026CVE List

What fixes it

  • 1c9d664e2e067fca69e5a41d68e23bbc66a583feLinuxCVE List
  • 6bc345f6d81ebe22e0f355c2a21d7e29691f9332LinuxCVE List
  • 02c6be7d675b21d81f0ba3a524346850a8c0e3bfLinuxCVE 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:

locking/lockdep: Invalidate stale class_cache entries for zapped classes

syzbot reported a lockdep splat hitting DEBUG_LOCKS_WARN_ON(1) in hlock_class() due to an invalid class_idx:

WARNING: kernel/locking/lockdep.c:238 at __lock_acquire+0x382/0x2cf0 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5203 Workqueue: wg-crypt-wg0 wg_packet_tx_worker RIP: 0010:hlock_class kernel/locking/lockdep.c:238 [inline] RIP: 0010:check_wait_context kernel/locking/lockdep.c:4870 [inline] RIP: 0010:__lock_acquire+0x389/0x2cf0 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5203 Call Trace: <IRQ> lock_acquire+0x106/0x350 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5886 _raw_spin_lock+0x2e/0x40 kernel/locking/spinlock.c:173 tcp_tsq_handler+0x29/0x200 net/ipv4/tcp_output.c:1291 tcp_tsq_workfn+0x384/0x410 net/ipv4/tcp_output.c:1325 ...

When a lock class is zapped (e.g. during module unload or key unregistration), zap_class() clears the class's bit in lock_classes_in_use and removes it from the class hash table. However, existing lockdep_map instances embedded in data structures may still retain a pointer to the zapped class in their class_cache[] array.

When __lock_acquire() subsequently runs on such a lock, it finds lock->class_cache[subclass] != NULL, skipping register_lock_class() and assigning hlock->class_idx to the index of the zapped class. When check_wait_context() or hlock_class() inspects the held_lock, it finds !test_bit(class_idx, lock_classes_in_use) and warns. Furthermore, if the zapped slot is subsequently re-allocated to an unrelated lock key, the stale class_cache entry would erroneously match the unrelated class (ABA issue).

Add lock_class_cache_is_valid() to validate that the cached class is within lock_classes bounds, still allocated in lock_classes_in_use (using uninstrumented arch_test_bit() in __always_inline context so it is safe in noinstr contexts like match_held_lock()), and that class->key matches the expected subkey (taking lockdep_set_subclass() overrides into account). Also use READ_ONCE()/WRITE_ONCE() when accessing class_cache[]. If the entry is invalid or stale, fall back to register_lock_class() / look_up_lock_class().

Text from CVE List

Affected versions 16

  • Linuxaffected: a0b0fd53e1e67639b303b15939b9c653dbe7a8c4 before f8a1281ab82df5b51fd0384354d4b21daf2b7af0CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: a0b0fd53e1e67639b303b15939b9c653dbe7a8c4 before 1c9d664e2e067fca69e5a41d68e23bbc66a583feCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: a0b0fd53e1e67639b303b15939b9c653dbe7a8c4 before 6bc345f6d81ebe22e0f355c2a21d7e29691f9332CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: a0b0fd53e1e67639b303b15939b9c653dbe7a8c4 before f63c86e9d267629758adaba18579e784ddd63c32CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: a0b0fd53e1e67639b303b15939b9c653dbe7a8c4 before c7acfb04c7e2e2dea248282b21373d93296644ddCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: a0b0fd53e1e67639b303b15939b9c653dbe7a8c4 before baa320fbb2f9fea50f5632a307da8ce84fbef5bdCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: a0b0fd53e1e67639b303b15939b9c653dbe7a8c4 before 02c6be7d675b21d81f0ba3a524346850a8c0e3bfCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 5.1CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: all versions before 5.1CVE 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 7