CVE-2026-89521: Linux kernel · sched/core: Handle pick_task() releasing the rq lock
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.3 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 4% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 11 Sep 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A fix has been implemented to address this vulnerability by modifying the scheduler to restart task selection when the rq lock is released during pick_task(). Users should apply the official patches or updates provided by their Linux distribution to remediate this issue. Since this is a kernel-level vulnerability, updating to patched kernel versions is the recommended mitigation.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's core scheduling mechanism related to the pick_task() function releasing the runqueue (rq) lock has been resolved. The issue causes the pick_next_task() function to break when the rq lock is released during task selection, potentially leading to incorrect task scheduling state and accounting errors. This affects certain Linux kernel versions used in the linux-hwe-edge product line.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-89521 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/88ed5a66467ca2a5148b9997af9c71d8c43060ad (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c10b216a072ff5c57bc880a05f87eb519aecc529 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-89521 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-89521 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/c10b216a072ff5c57bc880a05f87eb519aecc529 (opens in a new tab)