Race condition in Linux kernel perf event exit during exec
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: 5 without a fix
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The Linux kernel from 5.13 is affected by a race between perf_event_exit_task() and perf_pending_task() during begin_new_exec(). Because the task exit flag is not set in this exec path, perf_sigtrap() can run against a task context that has already been replaced, which triggers a kernel warning. The sources do not describe any further impact, and no exploitation is reported.
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: perf: Fix race between perf_event_exit_task() and perf_pending_task() A race condition exists between perf_event_exit_task() and perf_pending_task() during begin_new_exec(). During begin_new_exec(), perf_event_exit_task() may be called, and the PF_EXITING flag is not set on task. So perf_sigtrap() continues to execute and triggers WARN_ON_ONCE(event->ctx->task != current). Since both task exit and exec paths can call perf_event_exit_task() which sets ctx->task to TASK_TOMBSTONE, fix this by explicitly checking if event->ctx->task equals TASK_TOMBSTONE and dropping the redundant PF_EXITING check.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
Linux kernel fixes are available in the stable releases 5.15.224, 6.1.191, 6.6.160, 6.12.113, 6.18.56, 7.2.10 and 7.3. Red Hat rates the issue Moderate and has no fix planned for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6. The sources list no fixed version for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 and 10 or 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 5.15.224, 6.1.191, 6.6.160, 6.12.113, 6.18.56, 7.2.10, 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 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: 3 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4
Timeline
- 2026-10-18 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98790
- 2026-10-18 Alias added: GHSA-hx5j-phv4-m97w
- 2026-10-19 Fix available: Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-10-21 Fix available: Linux/[email protected], Linux/Linux@655acfa713bce9ae9c81a654459890c2f58cb4e8 · CNA
- 2026-10-21 1 new reference · CNA
- 2026-10-24 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-24 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-30 Fix available: Linux/[email protected], Linux/[email protected], Linux/Linux@6e454fbe3e646d119ab75e907035950e0e857c09 +1 · CNA
- 2026-10-30 2 new references · CNA
- 2026-11-06 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
Other 7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6e454fbe3e646d119ab75e907035950e0e857c09
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a8a6fe5601fa2d2c0fbfb3e531a1063f73c1eae3
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/655acfa713bce9ae9c81a654459890c2f58cb4e8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/672b8a9ce8f51b991481dfde26fba5cc4340a91a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/524063fea29f8a841e49927ea7a8085194ad3ec2
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/81e61e3f8befa1bae3ec8e779d8ada5e5e362c21
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ffb684f2aa141eeb0caa6308422e7e05d1ded7c4
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Sources
- CVE-2026-98790 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98790 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-hx5j-phv4-m97w · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98790 · 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