CVE-2026-98388
exec: do_close_on_exec() before taking exec_update_lock
Published Oct 14, 2026
CVSS 3.1 · 5.5 Medium
EPSS < 1%
KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
exec: do_close_on_exec() before taking exec_update_lock
do_close_on_exec() currently happens while holding the exec_update_lock,
which is used in a lot of places that access process state to
synchronize access checks.
I recently added another such use of exec_update_lock, causing a
regression.
do_close_on_exec() can block waiting for a reply from a filesystem.
That means a hung filesystem can block codepaths that use
exec_update_lock; and it also means that a FUSE filesystem which
attempts to inspect the calling process can deadlock.
To avoid such problems, move do_close_on_exec() before the
exec_update_lock is taken, but after the FD table has been copied if
necessary.
I have looked through all the calls between the old and new position of
the do_close_on_exec() call; there seems to be no file descriptor table
access in between.
exec: do_close_on_exec() before taking exec_update_lock
do_close_on_exec() currently happens while holding the exec_update_lock,
which is used in a lot of places that access process state to
synchronize access checks.
I recently added another such use of exec_update_lock, causing a
regression.
do_close_on_exec() can block waiting for a reply from a filesystem.
That means a hung filesystem can block codepaths that use
exec_update_lock; and it also means that a FUSE filesystem which
attempts to inspect the calling process can deadlock.
To avoid such problems, move do_close_on_exec() before the
exec_update_lock is taken, but after the FD table has been copied if
necessary.
I have looked through all the calls between the old and new position of
the do_close_on_exec() call; there seems to be no file descriptor table
access in between.
Affected Products
-
CVE record
-
NVD configurations
No data
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Red Hat packages
No data
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OpenCVE enrichment
Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).
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| Linux | Linux | unaffected |
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| Linux | Linux | affected |
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No data.
No data.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux Kernel |
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| Linux | Linux Kernel |
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Remediation
Tracking
Advisories
| Source | ID | Title |
|---|---|---|
 Debian DLA |
DLA-4841-1 | linux security update |
 Ubuntu USN |
USN-8961-1 | Linux kernel vulnerabilities |
| Ubuntu USN |
USN-9019-1 | Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities |
| Ubuntu USN |
USN-9020-1 | Linux kernel vulnerabilities |
| Ubuntu USN |
USN-9022-1 | Linux kernel vulnerabilities |
| Ubuntu USN |
USN-9023-1 | Linux kernel vulnerabilities |
| Ubuntu USN |
USN-9039-1 | Linux kernel (Azure CVM) vulnerabilities |
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0
Attack Vector Local
Attack Complexity Low
Privileges Required Low
Scope Unchanged
Confidentiality Impact None
Integrity Impact None
Availability Impact High
User Interaction None
No CVSS v3.0
No CVSS v2
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
Exploit prediction score: < 1% (0.216% probability within 30 days)
Key SSVC decision points have not yet been added.
References
History
Oct 16, 2026 1:00 AM
Weaknesses updated
View changes
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Weaknesses | CWE-613 |
Oct 16, 2026 12:30 AM
Weaknesses updated. Added references. Scoring metrics updated
View changes
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Weaknesses | CWE-833 | |
| References |
| |
| Metrics |
threat_severity
|
cvssV3_1
|
Oct 15, 2026 5:00 AM
Weaknesses updated
View changes
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Weaknesses | CWE-613 |
Oct 14, 2026 1:45 PM
Description updated. Title updated. First appearance in the feed. Affected versions updated. Affected vendors updated. Added references
View changes
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: exec: do_close_on_exec() before taking exec_update_lock do_close_on_exec() currently happens while holding the exec_update_lock, which is used in a lot of places that access process state to synchronize access checks. I recently added another such use of exec_update_lock, causing a regression. do_close_on_exec() can block waiting for a reply from a filesystem. That means a hung filesystem can block codepaths that use exec_update_lock; and it also means that a FUSE filesystem which attempts to inspect the calling process can deadlock. To avoid such problems, move do_close_on_exec() before the exec_update_lock is taken, but after the FD table has been copied if necessary. I have looked through all the calls between the old and new position of the do_close_on_exec() call; there seems to be no file descriptor table access in between. | |
| Title | exec: do_close_on_exec() before taking exec_update_lock | |
| First Time appeared |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| Vendors & Products |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| References |
|
|
Subscriptions
Weaknesses
