Missing kernel access check for kernel callchains in Linux perf
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
The Linux kernel from 2.6.31 checks kernel profiling privilege in perf_event_open only when kernel sampling is excluded, so it ignores requests for kernel callchains. A local user without kernel profiling privilege can therefore capture kernel callchains.
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: perf/core: Check kernel access when kernel callchains are requested perf_event_open() currently gates perf_allow_kernel() only on !attr.exclude_kernel. However, users can still request kernel callchain collection with attr.exclude_callchain_kernel == 0 even when attr.exclude_kernel == 1. That still requires kernel profiling privilege, but the existing check does not enforce it. Update the permission check to call perf_allow_kernel() when either kernel sampling is requested or kernel callchains are requested. This keeps permission checks aligned with requested data and prevents unprivileged use of kernel callchain capture.
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 a fixed version: 6.12.113, 6.18.56, 7.2.10 or 7.3. Red Hat lists no fix available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7, 8, 9 and 10 and Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 and 5, and no fix planned for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-07
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.12.113, 6.18.56, 7.2.10, 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 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
- 2026-10-23 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98937
- 2026-10-23 Alias added: GHSA-5cg4-h7ff-5xr5
- 2026-10-26 Fix available: Linux/Linux@0 · CNA
- 2026-10-29 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-29 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-11-07 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
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- TI-2013-01864 The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
Sources
- CVE-2026-98937 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98937 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-5cg4-h7ff-5xr5 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98937 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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