Information leak in Linux kernel input force feedback copy
Key facts
- Attack vector
- —
- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
- —
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 7 without a fix
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
In the Linux kernel input subsystem, from 2.6.29 before the fixed releases, the compat path of input_ff_effect_from_user() copies only the compat-sized prefix of a force feedback effect from user space, leaving the rest of the structure uninitialized. The leftover bytes keep old kernel stack contents, which input_ff_upload() stores and a uinput based force feedback daemon can read back through UI_BEGIN_FF_UPLOAD. This discloses kernel stack memory to userspace.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
Description from the CNA
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: Input: zero ff_effect before compat copy in input_ff_effect_from_user In the compat path input_ff_effect_from_user() aliases the caller's native struct ff_effect with the smaller struct ff_effect_compat and copies only the compat sized prefix: compat_effect = (struct ff_effect_compat *)effect; if (copy_from_user(compat_effect, buffer, sizeof(struct ff_effect_compat))) The tail of the native structure is never written. Callers pass an uninitialized on-stack object, for example evdev_do_ioctl() for EVIOCSFF, so those bytes keep their previous stack contents. input_ff_upload() then stores the full native structure in ff->effects[id], from where a uinput based force feedback daemon can read it back via UI_BEGIN_FF_UPLOAD, disclosing kernel stack memory to userspace. Zero the effect before the compat copy.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 2.6.29 and later | 5.10.271, 5.15.222, 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.112, 6.18.54, 7.2.8, 7.3 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 2.6.29 and later Fixed in 5.10.271, 5.15.222, 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.112, 6.18.54, 7.2.8, 7.3 Patch available CNA
Remediation
Linux kernel fixes are in 5.10.271, 5.15.222, 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.112, 6.18.54, 7.2.8 and 7.3. Red Hat plans no fix for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6. The sources list no fixed version for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7, 8, 9 and 10 and Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 and 5.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.271, 5.15.222, 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.112, 6.18.54, 7.2.8, 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 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 | Affected | No fix yet |
Timeline
- 2026-10-06 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98201
- 2026-10-06 Alias added: GHSA-hc65-vq9g-6pfq
- 2026-10-09 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-09 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-10 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-19 Fix available: Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-10-23 CVSS score changed · Red Hat
- 2026-11-06 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
Other 8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ed0905fda39682d3da7937184397d3276abbffa8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ec174c2ab1abb76b20fa167c6db848c3d97aa838
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6c26681c5668c973bd0e951407d670ac60d9cd66
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c5e573bb095d502be7cbbaa99c26a20984111c6d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b878720e8bcaa4cf7163a5081f904dd6baf11b2c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0d05b43b55d4784a42ce8fb318175f8ad7d9af5a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ed0406e490f48ed180df140fe2a81be26bccb1a9
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f84819ef8d66931ee3998fee3c4f03230f4cb6cc
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Sources
- CVE-2026-98201 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98201 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-hc65-vq9g-6pfq · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98201 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences