Cross-task descriptor injection via non-sleepable BPF callback
Published Sep 25, 2026 · Updated Sep 25, 2026
Improper execution-context validation in Linux 5.14 allows local users to inject a BTF object descriptor into an interrupted task. The bpf_btf_find_by_name_kind helper omits its sleepable marker, so the verifier permits module-BTF lookup from a timer callback and anon_inode_getfd can sleep while expanding the current task's descriptor table. Exploitation requires permission to load an eligible BPF syscall program and invoke the helper from a non-sleepable region; the demonstrated consequence is unintended descriptor installation in the interrupted task.
Summary
What happened
Improper execution-context validation in Linux 5.14 allows local users to inject a BTF object descriptor into an interrupted task. The bpf_btf_find_by_name_kind helper omits its sleepable marker, so the verifier permits module-BTF lookup from a timer callback and anon_inode_getfd can sleep while expanding the current task's descriptor table. Exploitation requires permission to load an eligible BPF syscall program and invoke the helper from a non-sleepable region; the demonstrated consequence is unintended descriptor installation in the interrupted task.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-98046
- 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
- Sep 25, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Sep 25, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
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- Affected versionversion=3d78417b60fba249cc555468cb72d96f5cde2964 <17f54a8f2b9714529d56edbbe12d448ccdbbf469
- Affected versionversion=3d78417b60fba249cc555468cb72d96f5cde2964 <29e40175617216fbd4544529f6bfb51d1ab95ba1
- Affected versionversion=3d78417b60fba249cc555468cb72d96f5cde2964 <4d8784226bd3c6a707975081f986078f40456cec
- Affected versionversion=3d78417b60fba249cc555468cb72d96f5cde2964 <620614bf7672130c43b3cff375525a2202f61979
- Affected versionversion=5.14
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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Attacks
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Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.
Weakness, pattern, technique
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Public exploit references
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