CVE-2026-97961

Kernel list corruption via unsafe callback traversal

Published Sep 25, 2026 · Updated Sep 25, 2026

List corruption in Linux 6.2 allows local users to corrupt the perf scheduler-callback list through a crafted perf event refresh. The perf_pmu_sched_task() loop uses list_for_each_entry while a PMU sched_task callback can reach perf_event_overflow() and delete the current sched_cb_list node. Reaching the flaw requires PERF_EVENT_IOC_REFRESH to exhaust event_limit on a PMU using scheduler callbacks; published material establishes list corruption but no further impact.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.17%
Next 30 days · Oct 19, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

List corruption in Linux 6.2 allows local users to corrupt the perf scheduler-callback list through a crafted perf event refresh. The perf_pmu_sched_task() loop uses list_for_each_entry while a PMU sched_task callback can reach perf_event_overflow() and delete the current sched_cb_list node. Reaching the flaw requires PERF_EVENT_IOC_REFRESH to exhaust event_limit on a PMU using scheduler callbacks; published material establishes list corruption but no further impact.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-97961
Published
Sep 25, 2026
Updated
Sep 25, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 25, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 25, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=6.2
  2. Affected versionversion=bd27568117664b8b3e259721393df420ed51f57b <59e63416f5153e7d58652c616fbdcb7d5e01fff7
  3. Affected versionversion=bd27568117664b8b3e259721393df420ed51f57b <6d0b9ce3be221c9077653f3670d60d66bb725ee2
  4. Affected versionversion=bd27568117664b8b3e259721393df420ed51f57b <723e85fb2c3bcd237ac02cbd69502ed62ce0068c
  5. Affected versionversion=bd27568117664b8b3e259721393df420ed51f57b <e2770c76a02452fddb52e9e05c7ed6acfef06c32

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.2; version=bd27568117664b8b3e259721393df420ed51f57b <59e63416f5153e7d58652c616fbdcb7d5e01fff7; version=bd27568117664b8b3e259721393df420ed51f57b <6d0b9ce3be221c9077653f3670d60d66bb725ee2; version=bd27568117664b8b3e259721393df420ed51f57b <723e85fb2c3bcd237ac02cbd69502ed62ce0068c; version=bd27568117664b8b3e259721393df420ed51f57b <e2770c76a02452fddb52e9e05c7ed6acfef06c32

Published CVSS scores

No CVSS assessment is available in this record.

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 22, 2026Sep 28, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 28, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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