Stale lock class cache entries in Linux kernel lockdep
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: 5 without a fix
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The Linux kernel lockdep lock validator can keep stale class_cache entries that still point to lock classes that were zapped, for example during module unload or key unregistration. A later lock acquisition on such a lock can use the freed class index, which triggers a kernel warning, and once the slot is reallocated to an unrelated lock key the stale entry can match the wrong class. Affected are Linux kernel versions from 5.1 before the fixed versions listed below.
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: locking/lockdep: Invalidate stale class_cache entries for zapped classes syzbot reported a lockdep splat hitting DEBUG_LOCKS_WARN_ON(1) in hlock_class() due to an invalid class_idx: WARNING: kernel/locking/lockdep.c:238 at __lock_acquire+0x382/0x2cf0 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5203 Workqueue: wg-crypt-wg0 wg_packet_tx_worker RIP: 0010:hlock_class kernel/locking/lockdep.c:238 [inline] RIP: 0010:check_wait_context kernel/locking/lockdep.c:4870 [inline] RIP: 0010:__lock_acquire+0x389/0x2cf0 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5203 Call Trace: <IRQ> lock_acquire+0x106/0x350 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5886 _raw_spin_lock+0x2e/0x40 kernel/locking/spinlock.c:173 tcp_tsq_handler+0x29/0x200 net/ipv4/tcp_output.c:1291 tcp_tsq_workfn+0x384/0x410 net/ipv4/tcp_output.c:1325 ... When a lock class is zapped (e.g. during module unload or key unregistration), zap_class() clears the class's bit in lock_classes_in_use and removes it from the class hash table. However, existing lockdep_map instances embedded in data structures may still retain a pointer to the zapped class in their class_cache[] array. When __lock_acquire() subsequently runs on such a lock, it finds lock->class_cache[subclass] != NULL, skipping register_lock_class() and assigning hlock->class_idx to the index of the zapped class. When check_wait_context() or hlock_class() inspects the held_lock, it finds !test_bit(class_idx, lock_classes_in_use) and warns. Furthermore, if the zapped slot is subsequently re-allocated to an unrelated lock key, the stale class_cache entry would erroneously match the unrelated class (ABA issue). Add lock_class_cache_is_valid() to validate that the cached class is within lock_classes bounds, still allocated in lock_classes_in_use (using uninstrumented arch_test_bit() in __always_inline context so it is safe in noinstr contexts like match_held_lock()), and that class->key matches the expected subkey (taking lockdep_set_subclass() overrides into account). Also use READ_ONCE()/WRITE_ONCE() when accessing class_cache[]. If the entry is invalid or stale, fall back to register_lock_class() / look_up_lock_class().
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
The fixed Linux kernel versions are 5.15.222, 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.111, 6.18.53, 7.2.7 and 7.3. Red Hat has no fix available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, 9 and 10 and for Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 and 5.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-07
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 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 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 |
| 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: 2 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
Timeline
- 2026-10-14 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98398
- 2026-10-14 Alias added: GHSA-qfc6-3g3r-6rjj
- 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 7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f8a1281ab82df5b51fd0384354d4b21daf2b7af0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1c9d664e2e067fca69e5a41d68e23bbc66a583fe
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6bc345f6d81ebe22e0f355c2a21d7e29691f9332
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f63c86e9d267629758adaba18579e784ddd63c32
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c7acfb04c7e2e2dea248282b21373d93296644dd
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/baa320fbb2f9fea50f5632a307da8ce84fbef5bd
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/02c6be7d675b21d81f0ba3a524346850a8c0e3bf
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Sources
- CVE-2026-98398 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98398 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-qfc6-3g3r-6rjj · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98398 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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