Linux kernel exec can hang while holding exec_update_lock
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: 1 without a fix
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
Linux kernel versions from 5.10.261 before 5.10.271, 5.15.212 before 5.15.222, 6.1.178 before 6.1.189, 6.6.145 before 6.6.158, 6.12.97 before 6.12.111, 6.18.40 before 6.18.53, 7.1.4 before 7.2, and 7.2 onward are affected. The kernel calls do_close_on_exec() while holding exec_update_lock, which other code uses to check process state, and closing files can wait on a filesystem reply. A hung filesystem can block those code paths, and a FUSE filesystem that inspects the calling process can deadlock.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-07
Description from the CNA
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: exec: do_close_on_exec() before taking exec_update_lock do_close_on_exec() currently happens while holding the exec_update_lock, which is used in a lot of places that access process state to synchronize access checks. I recently added another such use of exec_update_lock, causing a regression. do_close_on_exec() can block waiting for a reply from a filesystem. That means a hung filesystem can block codepaths that use exec_update_lock; and it also means that a FUSE filesystem which attempts to inspect the calling process can deadlock. To avoid such problems, move do_close_on_exec() before the exec_update_lock is taken, but after the FD table has been copied if necessary. I have looked through all the calls between the old and new position of the do_close_on_exec() call; there seems to be no file descriptor table access in between.
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 | 5.10.261 to before 5.10.271; 5.15.212 to before 5.15.222; 6.1.178 to before 6.1.189; 6.6.145 to before 6.6.158; 6.12.97 to before 6.12.111; 6.18.40 to before 6.18.53; 7.1.4 to before 7.2 | 5.10.271, 5.15.222, 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.111, 6.18.53, 7.2 | Patch available | CNA |
| Linux | Linux | 7.2 and later | 5.10.271, 5.15.222, 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.111, 6.18.53, 7.2.7, 7.3 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 5.10.261 to before 5.10.271; 5.15.212 to before 5.15.222; 6.1.178 to before 6.1.189; 6.6.145 to before 6.6.158; 6.12.97 to before 6.12.111; 6.18.40 to before 6.18.53; 7.1.4 to before 7.2 Fixed in 5.10.271, 5.15.222, 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.111, 6.18.53, 7.2 Patch available CNA
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 7.2 and later Fixed in 5.10.271, 5.15.222, 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.111, 6.18.53, 7.2.7, 7.3 Patch available CNA
Remediation
Fixed Linux kernel versions are 5.10.271, 5.15.222, 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.111, 6.18.53, 7.2, 7.2.7 and 7.3. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 is affected with no fix planned.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-07
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.271, 5.15.222, 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.111, 6.18.53, 7.2
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.271, 5.15.222, 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.111, 6.18.53, 7.2.7, 7.3
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
Not affected: 6 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5
Timeline
- 2026-10-14 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98388
- 2026-10-14 Alias added: GHSA-chvx-fr8p-v654
- 2026-10-16 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-16 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-19 Fix available: Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-11-07 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
Other 8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/955973fff4a36d39a848b00cac1706863f568fe1
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/550feab5b01000ab314868b62211fb3ddfd600e8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5aacc19ba2b1faf84c4a2f2cf9a1784e03d1ff38
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3feb4020bfb7ccf0d347f27051639d25e19cd65d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0d86cd6b709c39216e6ee5ea8f0fc4242bbb2b53
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/19ddef61ee0a49782a60f8f497e50597ad5de2da
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/63be3d8511bdafa095cd14a393cbf3c58dbbb928
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e780259b54e618ceb4763fbc21314acf3565e813
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Sources
- CVE-2026-98388 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98388 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-chvx-fr8p-v654 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98388 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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