posix-cpu-timers: Use u64 multiplication in update_rlimit_cpu()
Key facts
- Attack vector
- —
- Privileges required
- —
- User interaction
- —
- Attack complexity
- —
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 3 without a fix
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: posix-cpu-timers: Use u64 multiplication in update_rlimit_cpu() update_rlimit_cpu() converts the RLIMIT_CPU value to nanoseconds with u64 nsecs = rlim_new * NSEC_PER_SEC; On 32-bit kernels both rlim_new (unsigned long) and NSEC_PER_SEC (1000000000L) are 32-bit, so the multiplication is performed in unsigned long and truncated for rlim_new > 4 seconds before being widened to u64. The same file already casts to u64 for the matching computation in check_process_timers(): u64 softns = (u64)soft * NSEC_PER_SEC; As a result, the truncated value is installed into the CPUCLOCK_PROF expiry cache (nextevt), causing the process CPU timer to be programmed to fire prematurely for any RLIMIT_CPU soft limit >= 5 seconds. The actual SIGXCPU/SIGKILL decision in check_process_timers() already casts to u64 and is therefore correct, so limit enforcement is not broken; only the expiry-cache programming is wrong. Apply the same cast here so both paths convert rlim_cur identically. 64-bit kernels are unaffected.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.261, 5.15.212, 6.1.178, 6.6.145, 6.12.97, 6.18.40, 7.1.5, 7.2
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-72068
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-8p2j-7pmx-3hp5
- 2026-11-06 CISA SSVC decision points changed
References
Other 8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/feb5c87c8514444ba891b75a5a3eae57c64edaf8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/384628d6cdde0fcd76868606fad3ad8293100afb
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1fafc4d9b411645eb34de43362b966dc8fb3e263
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cff8281bacd2866767e6194c3079d33b6c5a74f4
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/edf6babb9edd2d3e19229ade339081f439d4f478
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ea6a188ee805e841a0e242f14d15953e0dfa74bb
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/571e1f10b5996ba3e4dc63ea77de4aa309c384ce
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/26aff38fefb1d6cd87e22525f41cc8f1aa61b24f
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Sources
- CVE-2026-72068 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-72068 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-8p2j-7pmx-3hp5 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-72068 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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