CVE-2026-98626: Linux kernel · bpf: Restrict CO-RE poisoning to relocatable instructions
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 8.4 High.
Data as of 28 Oct 2026, 01:28 UTC
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:NExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 18 Oct 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.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf: Restrict CO-RE poisoning to relocatable instructions CO-RE relocation records can name any instruction offset. When a relocation cannot be resolved, bpf_core_patch_insn() currently poisons its target before checking whether that instruction is a valid relocation target. Malformed metadata can therefore replace jumps, calls, exits, register-source arithmetic, or non-immediate loads instead of failing at the relocation step. Handle poisoning only after the instruction has passed the same class and operand-form checks used for a resolved relocation. Route invalid forms through the existing diagnostic and return a hard error. Keep poisoning supported instructions, including both halves of a plain ldimm64, so an unresolved relocation in dead code remains valid. Extend bpf_core_poison_insn() to poison both halves of ldimm64, and return its status directly from each validated instruction case. This avoids routing the success path through a common label and leaves the helper free to report errors. The shared relocation code applies this restriction to both libbpf and in-kernel CO-RE.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-98626 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98626 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a0b79cdfcf34b53c85bac2d3cf022fc1342eeca0 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8e4cbcca1e0a2fc5e6c8edb68e0cf5f2587f9319 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f2a24101e89dd0804e717da7c1bd6af513698aa2 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a8c47e62d9aea2d47a09e06c1682c59c21b92449 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2d7d04357c41aa49a5ac658fcc207439f2ad6456 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/394ae398337c5f87e567f6cd63b937fc2b2f6ddc (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d3219c229d16900cef936adad28633c98946e432 (opens in a new tab)