bpf: Require MEM_PERCPU for percpu kptr stores
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
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- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 4 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: bpf: Require MEM_PERCPU for percpu kptr stores map_kptr_match_type() treats perm_flags as the set of register type flags that a kptr field permits. Adding MEM_PERCPU to that set for BPF_KPTR_PERCPU does not require the source register to carry it, however. The subset test consequently accepts both a plain bpf_obj_new() allocation and a referenced kernel pointer into a __percpu_kptr map field. Loads from the field are always marked MEM_PERCPU. Consumers then treat the stored value as the cookie returned by bpf_percpu_obj_new(): per-CPU pointer helpers relocate it, and map teardown selects the per-CPU free path. A plain allocation can therefore provide an arbitrary kernel read/write, while a kernel pointer can be relocated into an invalid address or sent through a missing destructor. Require the source MEM_PERCPU flag to match the destination field kind. This preserves valid bpf_percpu_obj_new() stores and rejects both the program-BTF and kernel-BTF variants.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.12.111, 6.18.53, 7.2.7, 7.3
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. 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 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 5 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98039
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-hqcj-5pcp-63q5
- 2026-10-05 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-05 CVSS score changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-19 Fix available: Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-11-06 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
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Sources
- CVE-2026-98039 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98039 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-hqcj-5pcp-63q5 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98039 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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