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Fencer Intel
high 7.8

CVE-2026-98260 json

exec: Cleanup POSIX timers right after de_thread()

published last mo. modified 12d ago also EUVD-2026-93188

cvss
7.8
version 3.1, CNA
cisa kev
Not listed
not in CISA's catalog
epss
0.2%
EPSS 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 8%
public exploits
0
none known

Summary

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

exec: Cleanup POSIX timers right after de_thread()

A per-thread CPU timer holds a reference to the PID of the thread it is attached to and, while it is armed, its node is queued in that thread's posix_cputimers. The task is looked up by that PID.

When a non-leader thread exec()s, de_thread() changes which task owns that PID. pid_task(timer->it.cpu.pid, PIDTYPE_PID) then returns NULL, but the node is still queued on tsk, which is alive. timer_lock_sighand() takes a failed lookup to mean that the node is already dequeued, so it has nothing to undo.

begin_new_exec() calls posix_cpu_timers_exit(me) right after exec_task_namespaces() and that removes the leftover node, so the state normally stays invisible. But bprm->point_of_no_return is set before de_thread(), so if unshare_files(), set_mm_exe_file(), exec_mmap() or exec_task_namespaces() fails, the task dies before it gets there. exit_itimers() then frees the k_itimer while its node is still queued, and reaping tsk later erases that freed node from the rbtree.

In short:

the non-leader thread B the parent

timer_create(CLOCK_THREAD_CPUTIME_ID) timer_settime() arm_timer() // the node is queued on B execve() de_thread(B) exchange_tids(B, leader) // B's PID now belongs to the leader release_task(leader) __exit_signal(leader) posix_cpu_timers_exit(leader) // cleans leader's queue, not B's __unhash_process(leader) // that PID has no task anymore exec_mmap() mmap_read_lock_killable(old_mm) kill(B, SIGKILL) // -EINTR get_signal() do_exit() exit_itimers() posix_timer_delete() posix_cpu_timer_del() posix_timer_unhash_and_free() // freed while still queued wait4() release_task(B) posix_cpu_timers_exit(B) cleanup_timerqueue() timerqueue_del() // use-after-free

Move the POSIX timer cleanup right after de_thread() before any of the later failure conditions brings the task into do_exit().

[ tglx: Move the cleanup right after de_thread() ]

Patch / fix

  • Linux Linux 7.3
  • linux Debian 12 6.1.190-1
  • linux Debian 13 6.12.113-1
  • linux Debian 14 7.2.8-1
  • linux-6.12 Debian 12 6.12.113-1~deb12u1

debian advisories DEBIAN-CVE-2026-98260

  • linux Ubuntu 26.04 LTS 7.0.0-42.42
  • linux-aws Ubuntu 26.04 LTS 7.0.0-1016.17
  • linux-gcp Ubuntu 26.04 LTS 7.0.0-1016.18
  • linux-ibm Ubuntu 26.04 LTS 7.0.0-1017.17
  • linux-riscv Ubuntu 26.04 LTS 7.0.0-42.42.1
  • linux-oracle Ubuntu 26.04 LTS 7.0.0-1015.16
  • linux-hwe-7.0 Ubuntu 24.04 LTS 7.0.0-42.42~24.04.1
  • linux-oem-7.0 Ubuntu 26.04 LTS 7.0.0-1017.17

ubuntu advisories UBUNTU-CVE-2026-98260

Ubuntu security data © Canonical Ltd., from https://github.com/canonical/ubuntu-security-notices via OSV; changed: normalised to fixed package versions per release. CC BY-SA 4.0

  • kernel RHEL 10.2 6.12.0-211.67.1.el10_2
  • rv RHEL 10.2 6.12.0-211.67.1.el10_2
  • perf RHEL 10.2 6.12.0-211.67.1.el10_2
  • rtla RHEL 10.2 6.12.0-211.67.1.el10_2
  • libperf RHEL 10.2 6.12.0-211.67.1.el10_2
  • kernel-rt RHEL 10.2 6.12.0-211.67.1.el10_2
  • kernel-64k RHEL 10.2 6.12.0-211.67.1.el10_2
  • kernel-core RHEL 10.2 6.12.0-211.67.1.el10_2

red hat advisories RHSA-2026:85321RHSA-2026:83797RHSA-2026:83775RHSA-2026:83738RHSA-2026:83739RHSA-2026:83707

  • kernel-rt Real Time Module 15 SP7 6.4.0-150700.7.81.1
  • kernel-syms-rt Real Time Module 15 SP7 6.4.0-150700.7.81.1
  • kernel-source-rt Real Time Module 15 SP7 6.4.0-150700.7.81.1
  • kernel-rt SLE Micro 5.4 5.14.21-150400.15.192.2
  • kernel-source-rt SLE Micro 5.4 5.14.21-150400.15.192.2
  • kernel-rt SLE Micro 5.5 5.14.21-150500.13.167.2
  • kernel-source-rt SLE Micro 5.5 5.14.21-150500.13.167.2
  • kernel-64kb SLES 15 SP4-LTSS, SLE High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS, SLE High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS 5.14.21-150400.24.246.1

suse advisories SUSE-SU-2026:4940-1SUSE-SU-2026:4939-1SUSE-SU-2026:4938-1SUSE-SU-2026:4937-1SUSE-SU-2026:4936-1SUSE-SU-2026:4935-1

  • kernel-rt openSUSE Leap 16.0 6.12.0-160000.40.1
  • dtb-aarch64 openSUSE Leap 16.0 6.12.0-160000.40.1
  • kernel-64kb openSUSE Leap 16.0 6.12.0-160000.40.1
  • kernel-syms openSUSE Leap 16.0 6.12.0-160000.40.1
  • kernel-azure openSUSE Leap 16.0 6.12.0-160000.40.1
  • kernel-obs-qa openSUSE Leap 16.0 6.12.0-160000.40.1
  • kernel-source openSUSE Leap 16.0 6.12.0-160000.40.1
  • kernel-default openSUSE Leap 16.0 6.12.0-160000.40.1

opensuse advisories openSUSE-SU-2026:22167-1openSUSE-SU-2026:12131-1

  • kernel AlmaLinux 9 5.14.0-687.59.1.el9_8
  • rv AlmaLinux 9 5.14.0-687.59.1.el9_8
  • perf AlmaLinux 9 5.14.0-687.59.1.el9_8
  • rtla AlmaLinux 9 5.14.0-687.59.1.el9_8
  • libperf AlmaLinux 9 5.14.0-687.59.1.el9_8
  • kernel-rt AlmaLinux 9 5.14.0-687.59.1.el9_8
  • kernel-64k AlmaLinux 9 5.14.0-687.59.1.el9_8
  • kernel-core AlmaLinux 9 5.14.0-687.59.1.el9_8

almalinux advisories ALSA-2026:86033ALSA-2026:85321

  • kernel Rocky Linux 9 5.14.0-687.59.1.el9_8
  • kernel Rocky Linux 10 6.12.0-211.67.1.el10_2

rocky linux advisories RLSA-2026:86033RLSA-2026:85321

  • kernel Azure Linux 3.0 6.6.158.1-1

azure linux advisories AZL-106044

Azure Linux vulnerability data, Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation, from https://github.com/microsoft/AzureLinuxVulnerabilityData via OSV, under the MIT licence; changed: normalised to fixed package versions per release. MIT

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Vendor advisories

What the vendors themselves say about their products: affected, fixed or not affected, and what to do.

red hat product security vex CVE-2026-98260 updated cvss 7.8

kernel: exec: Cleanup POSIX timers right after de_thread()

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 kernel-rt, kernel-rt-kvm, kernel-rt-core, kernel-rt-modules, kernel-rt-debug-kvm, kernel-rt-debug-core, +12 more
    affected: workaround, no fix available
  • Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.6) libperf 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6, kernel-debuginfo-common-s390x 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6, kernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6, kernel-debuginfo-common-aarch64 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6, kernel-debuginfo-common-ppc64le 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:83775
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux kernel-modules-internal 6.12.0-211.67.1.el10_2
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:85321
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) rv 5.14.0-687.59.1.el9_8, rv 5.14.0-741.20.1.el9_9, perf 5.14.0-687.59.1.el9_8, perf 5.14.0-741.20.1.el9_9, rtla 5.14.0-687.59.1.el9_8, rtla 5.14.0-741.20.1.el9_9, +20 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:86033
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) rv 6.12.0-211.67.1.el10_2, rv 6.12.0-264.14.1.el10_3, perf 6.12.0-211.67.1.el10_2, perf 6.12.0-264.14.1.el10_3, rtla 6.12.0-211.67.1.el10_2, rtla 6.12.0-264.14.1.el10_3, +20 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:85321
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.2) perf 5.14.0-284.198.1.el9_2, rtla 5.14.0-284.198.1.el9_2, kernel-devel-matched 5.14.0-284.198.1.el9_2, kernel-64k-devel-matched 5.14.0-284.198.1.el9_2, kernel-debug-devel-matched 5.14.0-284.198.1.el9_2, kernel-debuginfo-common-s390x 5.14.0-284.198.1.el9_2, +5 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:83738
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.4) rv 5.14.0-427.156.1.el9_4, perf 5.14.0-427.156.1.el9_4, rtla 5.14.0-427.156.1.el9_4, kernel-devel-matched 5.14.0-427.156.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-devel-matched 5.14.0-427.156.1.el9_4, kernel-debug-devel-matched 5.14.0-427.156.1.el9_4, +6 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:83797
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 10.0) rv 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0, perf 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0, rtla 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0, python3-perf 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0, kernel-devel-matched 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-devel-matched 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0, +7 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:83707
show 24 more
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.6) rv 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6, perf 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6, rtla 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6, python3-perf 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6, kernel-devel-matched 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-devel-matched 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6, +7 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:83775
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) kernel 5.14.0-687.59.1.el9_8, kernel 5.14.0-741.20.1.el9_9, kernel-64k 5.14.0-687.59.1.el9_8, kernel-64k 5.14.0-741.20.1.el9_9, kernel-core 5.14.0-687.59.1.el9_8, kernel-core 5.14.0-741.20.1.el9_9, +60 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:86033
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) kernel 6.12.0-211.67.1.el10_2, kernel 6.12.0-264.14.1.el10_3, kernel-64k 6.12.0-211.67.1.el10_2, kernel-64k 6.12.0-264.14.1.el10_3, kernel-core 6.12.0-211.67.1.el10_2, kernel-core 6.12.0-264.14.1.el10_3, +62 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:85321
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.2) bpftool 7.0.0-284.198.1.el9_2, kernel 5.14.0-284.198.1.el9_2, kernel-64k 5.14.0-284.198.1.el9_2, kernel-core 5.14.0-284.198.1.el9_2, kernel-tools 5.14.0-284.198.1.el9_2, python3-perf 5.14.0-284.198.1.el9_2, +28 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:83738
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.4) bpftool 7.3.0-427.156.1.el9_4, kernel 5.14.0-427.156.1.el9_4, kernel-64k 5.14.0-427.156.1.el9_4, kernel-core 5.14.0-427.156.1.el9_4, kernel-tools 5.14.0-427.156.1.el9_4, python3-perf 5.14.0-427.156.1.el9_4, +28 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:83797
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v. 10.0) kernel 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0, kernel-64k 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0, kernel-core 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0, kernel-tools 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0, kernel-modules 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-core 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0, +27 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:83707
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.6) kernel 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6, kernel-64k 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6, kernel-core 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6, kernel-tools 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6, kernel-modules 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-core 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6, +27 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:83775
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) libperf 5.14.0-687.59.1.el9_8, libperf 5.14.0-741.20.1.el9_9, kernel-debuginfo-common-s390x 5.14.0-687.59.1.el9_8, kernel-debuginfo-common-s390x 5.14.0-741.20.1.el9_9, kernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64 5.14.0-687.59.1.el9_8, kernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64 5.14.0-741.20.1.el9_9, +4 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:86033
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) libperf 6.12.0-211.67.1.el10_2, libperf 6.12.0-264.14.1.el10_3, kernel-debuginfo-common-s390x 6.12.0-211.67.1.el10_2, kernel-debuginfo-common-s390x 6.12.0-264.14.1.el10_3, kernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64 6.12.0-211.67.1.el10_2, kernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64 6.12.0-264.14.1.el10_3, +4 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:85321
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v. 10.0) libperf 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0, kernel-debuginfo-common-s390x 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0, kernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0, kernel-debuginfo-common-aarch64 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0, kernel-debuginfo-common-ppc64le 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:83707
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Hidden (v. 10) kernel-modules-internal 6.12.0-211.67.1.el10_2, kernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64 6.12.0-211.67.1.el10_2
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:85321
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) kernel-rt 5.14.0-687.59.1.el9_8, kernel-rt 5.14.0-741.20.1.el9_9, kernel-rt-64k 5.14.0-687.59.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-64k 5.14.0-741.20.1.el9_9, kernel-rt-core 5.14.0-687.59.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-core 5.14.0-741.20.1.el9_9, +34 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:86033
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) kernel-rt 6.12.0-211.67.1.el10_2, kernel-rt 6.12.0-264.14.1.el10_3, kernel-rt-64k 6.12.0-211.67.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-64k 6.12.0-264.14.1.el10_3, kernel-rt-core 6.12.0-211.67.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-core 6.12.0-264.14.1.el10_3, +34 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:85321
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time E4S (v.9.2) kernel-rt 5.14.0-284.198.1.rt14.483.el9_2, kernel-rt-core 5.14.0-284.198.1.rt14.483.el9_2, kernel-rt-modules 5.14.0-284.198.1.rt14.483.el9_2, kernel-rt-debug-core 5.14.0-284.198.1.rt14.483.el9_2, kernel-rt-modules-core 5.14.0-284.198.1.rt14.483.el9_2, kernel-rt-debug-modules 5.14.0-284.198.1.rt14.483.el9_2, +4 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:83739
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time E4S (v.9.4) kernel-rt 5.14.0-427.156.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-core 5.14.0-427.156.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-modules 5.14.0-427.156.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-core 5.14.0-427.156.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-modules-core 5.14.0-427.156.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-modules 5.14.0-427.156.1.el9_4, +4 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:83797
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v. 10.0) kernel-rt 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-64k 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-core 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-modules 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-64k-core 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-debug-core 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0, +14 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:83707
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v.9.6) kernel-rt 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-64k 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-core 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-modules 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-64k-core 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-debug-core 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6, +14 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:83775
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) kernel-rt 5.14.0-687.59.1.el9_8, kernel-rt 5.14.0-741.20.1.el9_9, kernel-rt-core 5.14.0-687.59.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-core 5.14.0-741.20.1.el9_9, kernel-rt-modules 5.14.0-687.59.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-modules 5.14.0-741.20.1.el9_9, +15 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:86033
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) kernel-rt 6.12.0-211.67.1.el10_2, kernel-rt 6.12.0-264.14.1.el10_3, kernel-rt-core 6.12.0-211.67.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-core 6.12.0-264.14.1.el10_3, kernel-rt-modules 6.12.0-211.67.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-modules 6.12.0-264.14.1.el10_3, +15 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:85321
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV E4S (v.9.2) kernel-rt 5.14.0-284.198.1.rt14.483.el9_2, kernel-rt-kvm 5.14.0-284.198.1.rt14.483.el9_2, kernel-rt-core 5.14.0-284.198.1.rt14.483.el9_2, kernel-rt-modules 5.14.0-284.198.1.rt14.483.el9_2, kernel-rt-debug-kvm 5.14.0-284.198.1.rt14.483.el9_2, kernel-rt-debug-core 5.14.0-284.198.1.rt14.483.el9_2, +6 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:83739
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV E4S (v.9.4) kernel-rt 5.14.0-427.156.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-kvm 5.14.0-427.156.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-core 5.14.0-427.156.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-modules 5.14.0-427.156.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-kvm 5.14.0-427.156.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-core 5.14.0-427.156.1.el9_4, +6 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:83797
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v. 10.0) kernel-rt 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-kvm 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-core 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-modules 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-debug-kvm 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-debug-core 6.12.0-55.111.1.el10_0, +6 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:83707
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v.9.6) kernel-rt 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-kvm 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-core 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-modules 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-debug-kvm 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-debug-core 5.14.0-570.149.1.el9_6, +6 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2026:83775
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 perf, kernel, python-perf, kernel-kdump, kernel-firmware, kernel-bootwrapper, +1 more Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 perf, kernel, bpftool, kernel-rt, python-perf, kernel-kdump, +8 more Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 perf, kernel, bpftool, kernel-rt, kernel-core, kernel-tools, +29 more
    not affected: vulnerable code not present

Red Hat CSAF VEX © Red Hat, Inc., from https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/; changed: reduced to product statuses and remediations. CC BY 4.0 · csaf

Exploit prediction

0.19% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 8% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-11).

CVSS scores

assigned by version score vector
CNA 3.1 7.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

  • Linux Linux

Classification

Technology feeds

References

Sources

Fencer Intel keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.