CVE-2026-98610Public exploit

CPU hang via unchecked classification cycles

Published Oct 18, 2026 · Updated Oct 18, 2026

An infinite loop in Linux HFSC packet classification allows local users to hang a CPU via crafted traffic-control filter bindings. The hfsc_classify() function skips level checks for bound classes, while later level changes leave cyclic bindings that it traverses indefinitely with the queue lock held. Exploitation requires HFSC and u32 classification support plus CAP_NET_ADMIN, obtainable through permitted unprivileged user and network namespaces; processing a packet causes a soft lockup, or a kernel panic when softlockup_panic is enabled.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.21%
Next 30 days · Oct 19, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

An infinite loop in Linux HFSC packet classification allows local users to hang a CPU via crafted traffic-control filter bindings. The hfsc_classify() function skips level checks for bound classes, while later level changes leave cyclic bindings that it traverses indefinitely with the queue lock held. Exploitation requires HFSC and u32 classification support plus CAP_NET_ADMIN, obtainable through permitted unprivileged user and network namespaces; processing a packet causes a soft lockup, or a kernel panic when softlockup_panic is enabled.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-98610
Published
Oct 18, 2026
Updated
Oct 18, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 18, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 18, 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=2.6.35
  2. Affected versionversion=a2f79227138c71e08627af5f8961197364edbc98 <0fa25ba50a382d79c0cf060214c2095756836f5f
  3. Affected versionversion=a2f79227138c71e08627af5f8961197364edbc98 <1301a1292c6742b4c96a18715d49f89c3caca0d7
  4. Affected versionversion=a2f79227138c71e08627af5f8961197364edbc98 <2bd20245dd658789d8cccb37697967b4caba6ad8
  5. Affected versionversion=a2f79227138c71e08627af5f8961197364edbc98 <30d7fea767e830bd81ac2f73d2e33c877cb2e679
  6. Affected versionversion=a2f79227138c71e08627af5f8961197364edbc98 <8a60ade2277e1f0e0d0578d565354e52292fa46d
  7. Affected versionversion=a2f79227138c71e08627af5f8961197364edbc98 <d4fd251e3311727c32af89344d3332f788c153a2
  8. Affected versionversion=a2f79227138c71e08627af5f8961197364edbc98 <e8f9979286f70dfbfe0552e2a63000950841bea6
  9. Affected versionversion=a2f79227138c71e08627af5f8961197364edbc98 <f476fb656ca2326d7b2eba98d03ced1cbcf5cd99

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=2.6.35; version=a2f79227138c71e08627af5f8961197364edbc98 <0fa25ba50a382d79c0cf060214c2095756836f5f; version=a2f79227138c71e08627af5f8961197364edbc98 <1301a1292c6742b4c96a18715d49f89c3caca0d7; version=a2f79227138c71e08627af5f8961197364edbc98 <2bd20245dd658789d8cccb37697967b4caba6ad8; version=a2f79227138c71e08627af5f8961197364edbc98 <30d7fea767e830bd81ac2f73d2e33c877cb2e679; version=a2f79227138c71e08627af5f8961197364edbc98 <8a60ade2277e1f0e0d0578d565354e52292fa46d; version=a2f79227138c71e08627af5f8961197364edbc98 <d4fd251e3311727c32af89344d3332f788c153a2; version=a2f79227138c71e08627af5f8961197364edbc98 <e8f9979286f70dfbfe0552e2a63000950841bea6; version=a2f79227138c71e08627af5f8961197364edbc98 <f476fb656ca2326d7b2eba98d03ced1cbcf5cd99

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.

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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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

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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