Linux kernel cpuset lets remote partitions claim CPUs already owned
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
The Linux kernel cpuset code is affected from version 6.16. When a remote partition is created under an existing local partition through a non-partition cgroup, remote_partition_enable() only logs a warning and still enables the partition on CPUs that the local partition already owns. A local user who can configure cpuset cgroups can leave two active root partitions claiming the same exclusive CPU.
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: cgroup/cpuset: Return PERR_NOCPUS in remote_partition_enable() on subpartitions_cpus conflict When a remote partition is created underneath an existing local partition via a non-partition (PRS_MEMBER) intermediate cgroup, update_prstate() sees parent->partition_root_state == PRS_MEMBER and calls remote_partition_enable(). Commit 86888c7bd117 ("cgroup/cpuset: Add warnings to catch inconsistency in exclusive CPUs") replaced the cpumask_intersects(tmp->new_cpus, subpartitions_cpus) error check in remote_partition_enable() with WARN_ON_ONCE(). As a result, remote_partition_enable() emits a warning and proceeds to enable the remote partition on CPUs that are already owned by the ancestor local partition in subpartitions_cpus. This can be reproduced on Linux 7.3.0-rc3 with: mkdir -p /tmp/cg1 mount -t cgroup2 none /tmp/cg1 echo "+cpuset" > /tmp/cg1/cgroup.subtree_control mkdir /tmp/cg1/A echo 1 > /tmp/cg1/A/cpuset.cpus echo 1 > /tmp/cg1/A/cpuset.cpus.exclusive echo root > /tmp/cg1/A/cpuset.cpus.partition echo "+cpuset" > /tmp/cg1/A/cgroup.subtree_control mkdir /tmp/cg1/A/B echo 1 > /tmp/cg1/A/B/cpuset.cpus echo 1 > /tmp/cg1/A/B/cpuset.cpus.exclusive echo "+cpuset" > /tmp/cg1/A/B/cgroup.subtree_control mkdir /tmp/cg1/A/B/D echo 1 > /tmp/cg1/A/B/D/cpuset.cpus echo 1 > /tmp/cg1/A/B/D/cpuset.cpus.exclusive echo root > /tmp/cg1/A/B/D/cpuset.cpus.partition which triggers: WARNING: kernel/cgroup/cpuset.c:1594 at remote_partition_enable+0x1c1/0x300 and leaves both /tmp/cg1/A and /tmp/cg1/A/B/D as active root partitions claiming exclusive CPU 1. Fix this by returning PERR_NOCPUS when tmp->new_cpus intersects subpartitions_cpus in remote_partition_enable(), matching the error code used by remote_cpus_update() for the same subpartitions_cpus conflict, and add a regression test case to tools/testing/selftests/cgroup/test_cpuset_prs.sh. Tested in QEMU on Linux 7.3.0-rc3 using the reproducer above and tools/testing/selftests/cgroup/test_cpuset_prs.sh.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
Update the Linux kernel to 6.18.55, 7.2.9 or 7.3, which contain the fix. Red Hat lists no fix plan for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 and Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.18.55, 7.2.9, 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 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
- 2026-10-18 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98542
- 2026-10-18 Alias added: GHSA-37q5-j4w5-c38r
- 2026-10-19 Fix available: Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-10-20 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-20 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-30 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
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Sources
- CVE-2026-98542 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98542 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-37q5-j4w5-c38r · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98542 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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