CPU soft lockup via unyielding batch traversal
Published Oct 18, 2026 · Updated Oct 18, 2026
Missing rescheduling in Linux BPF hash-map batch operations allows local users to trigger CPU soft lockups through batch lookups. In __htab_map_lookup_and_delete_batch(), the batch count limits copied entries rather than visited buckets, while consecutive empty buckets retain an uninterrupted RCU critical section. Reachability requires access to a suitable BPF map; large sparse maps expose prolonged CPU stalls, demonstrated on CONFIG_PREEMPT_NONE kernels, rather than a documented permanent hang or data compromise.
Summary
What happened
Missing rescheduling in Linux BPF hash-map batch operations allows local users to trigger CPU soft lockups through batch lookups. In __htab_map_lookup_and_delete_batch(), the batch count limits copied entries rather than visited buckets, while consecutive empty buckets retain an uninterrupted RCU critical section. Reachability requires access to a suitable BPF map; large sparse maps expose prolonged CPU stalls, demonstrated on CONFIG_PREEMPT_NONE kernels, rather than a documented permanent hang or data compromise.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-98644
- Published
- Oct 18, 2026
- Updated
- Oct 18, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1499.001
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Oct 18, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Oct 18, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=057996380a42bb64ccc04383cfa9c0ace4ea11f0 <44f9bcb5ab2b268bc763ed3ebec83308b4972936
- Affected versionversion=057996380a42bb64ccc04383cfa9c0ace4ea11f0 <4e48fe9b1c77966bede0a73feb3059d7595f642d
- Affected versionversion=057996380a42bb64ccc04383cfa9c0ace4ea11f0 <5c8b1869cb99a32a962388848cd19604fb41263e
- Affected versionversion=057996380a42bb64ccc04383cfa9c0ace4ea11f0 <77a3b52b4455e6377e549539e757bc55eedefb51
- Affected versionversion=057996380a42bb64ccc04383cfa9c0ace4ea11f0 <85136bf22404474a815fc0ed26ec0d1cbc1bc3f9
- Affected versionversion=057996380a42bb64ccc04383cfa9c0ace4ea11f0 <ca5bd55fc508fbb5c08c62206d02237a5b6fc7e8
- Affected versionversion=057996380a42bb64ccc04383cfa9c0ace4ea11f0 <f0c09de08ec077098b7e1563f2285f1c136cd816
- Affected versionversion=5.6
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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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
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