Local kernel panic via zero-refcount task resurrection
Published Sep 26, 2026 · Updated Sep 26, 2026
A use-after-free in the Linux 6.19 cgroup task iterator allows local users to trigger a kernel panic by reading cgroup.procs. Between css_task_iter_next() calls, a dying task can reach a zero usage count while remaining on dying_tasks, after which get_task_struct() resurrects it before free_task() releases it. Triggering the race requires local access to read cgroup.procs while a thread-group leader is reaped, and the demonstrated consequence is a host-wide panic.
Summary
What happened
A use-after-free in the Linux 6.19 cgroup task iterator allows local users to trigger a kernel panic by reading cgroup.procs. Between css_task_iter_next() calls, a dying task can reach a zero usage count while remaining on dying_tasks, after which get_task_struct() resurrects it before free_task() releases it. Triggering the race requires local access to read cgroup.procs while a thread-group leader is reaped, and the demonstrated consequence is a host-wide panic.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-98163
- Published
- Sep 26, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 26, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1499.004
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 26, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Sep 26, 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?
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- Affected versionversion=260fbcb92bbeacfcd050410fdc2d24ab15044400 <057dac23d329d5c5ed62352f2659a39fd46c6d4a
- Affected versionversion=260fbcb92bbeacfcd050410fdc2d24ab15044400 <828938118d6c2bb711301748c3e39e4bed6a62f5
- Affected versionversion=6.19
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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