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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2026-98861: Linux kernel · fprobe: Use guard(rcu_sched_notrace) and check rcu_is_watching()

Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database

0
Authoritative record:CVE-2026-98861· High

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.1 High.

Data as of 28 Oct 2026, 02:26 UTC

CVSS 4.0 base score
7.1High
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 18 Oct 2026

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponised: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq 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

ProductAffectedFixed in
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threatsAffected
  • 6.17.0-5.5 – 7.0.0-38.38
23 affected builds
Fixed in–
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threatsAffected
  • 6.17.0-1002.2 – 7.0.0-1014.14
15 affected builds
Fixed in–
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threatsAffected
  • 6.17.0-1003.3 – 7.0.0-1017.17
15 affected builds
Fixed in–
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threatsAffected
  • 7.0.0-1003.3 – 7.0.0-1016.16
9 affected builds
Fixed in–
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threatsAffected
  • 6.17.0-1002.2 – 7.0.0-1014.14
13 affected builds
Fixed in–
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threatsAffected
  • 7.0.0-1002.3 – 7.0.0-1008.9
6 affected builds
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 is available that modifies the fprobe code to use guard(rcu_sched_notrace) and checks rcu_is_watching() to ensure safe synchronization and prevent use-after-free. Users should apply the updated Linux kernel versions that include these changes. Since this is a kernel vulnerability, upgrading to patched kernel versions is the recommended mitigation.

Description

CVE-2026-98861 is a high-severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel's fprobe subsystem. It arises because unregister_fprobe() and unregister_fprobe_async() rely on standard RCU grace periods that do not account for fprobe handlers executing when RCU is not watching, such as in idle or nohz_full states. This can lead to a use-after-free condition if the fprobe is freed immediately after unregistration. The issue is addressed by adding checks for rcu_is_watching() and using guard(rcu_sched_notrace) to avoid lockdep overhead and ensure safe synchronization.

References

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