U65 NPU workload interruption via rounding-mode misinterpretation
Published Sep 25, 2026 · Updated Sep 25, 2026
Incorrect field interpretation in the Linux Ethos-U driver allows local users to disrupt U65 NPU workloads through crafted command streams. The feat_matrix_length function shifts bits 15:14 of the precision field into a storage-mode value even though those bits encode rounding mode on U65 hardware. Natural rounding makes CMDSTREAM_BO_CREATE reject valid work with EINVAL, while truncating rounding selects a two-tile path and calculates a bogus feature-map size; exploitation requires a U65 NPU and an affected rounding mode.
Summary
What happened
Incorrect field interpretation in the Linux Ethos-U driver allows local users to disrupt U65 NPU workloads through crafted command streams. The feat_matrix_length function shifts bits 15:14 of the precision field into a storage-mode value even though those bits encode rounding mode on U65 hardware. Natural rounding makes CMDSTREAM_BO_CREATE reject valid work with EINVAL, while truncating rounding selects a two-tile path and calculates a bogus feature-map size; exploitation requires a U65 NPU and an affected rounding mode.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-98143
- Published
- Sep 25, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 25, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1499
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
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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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=5a5e9c0228e613f0ef2a58b9782d7c0ea8f1e58b <6b08adbda8ea797849e3654ce12cb3856ce6051a
- Affected versionversion=5a5e9c0228e613f0ef2a58b9782d7c0ea8f1e58b <db9deec5a345abc538d081fb221dc0b00a9695bd
- Affected versionversion=6.19
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
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