Kernel stack data leak in Linux evdev EVIOCSABS handling
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
- —
- 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 from 2.6.36, the evdev driver's EVIOCSABS ioctl copies only the caller-supplied size into an uninitialized stack structure, so fields the caller does not supply keep stale kernel stack bytes. The stored structure can then be read back with EVIOCGABS, which lets a local user read those kernel stack bytes.
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: evdev - zero absinfo before partial copy in EVIOCSABS The EVIOCSABS handler copies at most the user supplied ioctl size into an uninitialized on-stack struct input_absinfo: if (copy_from_user(&abs, p, min_t(size_t, size, sizeof(struct input_absinfo)))) The size comes from _IOC_SIZE() of the ioctl command and is therefore fully controlled by userspace. A short size leaves the trailing part of the structure holding whatever was on the kernel stack, and the whole structure is then stored into the device: dev->absinfo[t] = abs; EVIOCGABS hands that back to userspace, disclosing the stale stack bytes. Only the resolution field is currently cleared, which covers the legacy struct layout but not an arbitrarily short size. Zero the structure before the copy so any part not supplied by the caller reads back as zero. The existing resolution fixup is kept, since it also handles a size that partially overlaps that field.
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 | 2.6.36 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 2.6.36 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 has no fix planned for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 and lists no available fix for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7, 8, 9 and 10 and for 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: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | 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 |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Timeline
- 2026-10-06 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98205
- 2026-10-06 Alias added: GHSA-jw64-9g8w-pg6v
- 2026-10-09 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-09 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-19 Fix available: Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-10-30 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-11-01 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
Other 8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c0aebb57b73c7d06ad21731099afe119b113c403
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/89b6ffa4bc10c436fa9aecc73be105124cd58a35
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e834e134a32b6a5c600fa539bb49146f617743ab
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/af5f7130cbf39e6e12336d0b7a5f6e76e4e1526b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/30b853a3d71f16bd0aa66b604bc37dd1254a19b3
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/71e5619db11dd6429101bd967230d0321ec5ea26
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3dfe48d5307a1ba22c58231d04257737015569ca
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8b852965b8eaf910c314dc346967ed82c8d4f235
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Sources
- CVE-2026-98205 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98205 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-jw64-9g8w-pg6v · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98205 · 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