CVE-2026-98789

bpf: Fix objects stuck in free_by_rcu_ttrace

Published Oct 18, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 4.4 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

bpf: Fix objects stuck in free_by_rcu_ttrace

do_call_rcu_ttrace() returns early when call_rcu_ttrace_in_progress is set
and leaves the objects in free_by_rcu_ttrace. __free_rcu() frees
waiting_for_gp_ttrace only and clears the flag. Hence the objects that
free_bulk() or __free_by_rcu() added while RCU tasks trace GP was in flight
stay in free_by_rcu_ttrace until free_bulk() or alloc_bulk() is called for
the same bpf_mem_cache again, which may never happen. The number of such
objects is not bounded.

Turn call_rcu_ttrace_in_progress into three states:
0 - idle
1 - __free_rcu() is queued
2 - __free_rcu() is queued and free_by_rcu_ttrace got more objects since

do_call_rcu_ttrace() sets 2. __free_rcu() does cmpxchg(1 -> 0) and starts
the next GP when it fails. It cannot clear the flag first and check
free_by_rcu_ttrace later, since bpf_mem_alloc_destroy() frees bpf_mem_cache
without waiting for RCU callbacks when the flag is zero.

Now __free_rcu() queues itself, so the one that didn't see 'draining' may
do call_rcu_tasks_trace() after rcu_barrier_tasks_trace() in
free_mem_alloc(). Queue it under rcu_read_lock() and do synchronize_rcu()
before the barriers. Calling rcu_barrier_tasks_trace() twice works too, but
creating and destroying hash maps in a loop on many cpus slows down to one
free_mem_alloc() per GP and kworkers pile up.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9018-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9018-2 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9019-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9020-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-179
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-772
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 4.4, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-179
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf: Fix objects stuck in free_by_rcu_ttrace do_call_rcu_ttrace() returns early when call_rcu_ttrace_in_progress is set and leaves the objects in free_by_rcu_ttrace. __free_rcu() frees waiting_for_gp_ttrace only and clears the flag. Hence the objects that free_bulk() or __free_by_rcu() added while RCU tasks trace GP was in flight stay in free_by_rcu_ttrace until free_bulk() or alloc_bulk() is called for the same bpf_mem_cache again, which may never happen. The number of such objects is not bounded. Turn call_rcu_ttrace_in_progress into three states: 0 - idle 1 - __free_rcu() is queued 2 - __free_rcu() is queued and free_by_rcu_ttrace got more objects since do_call_rcu_ttrace() sets 2. __free_rcu() does cmpxchg(1 -> 0) and starts the next GP when it fails. It cannot clear the flag first and check free_by_rcu_ttrace later, since bpf_mem_alloc_destroy() frees bpf_mem_cache without waiting for RCU callbacks when the flag is zero. Now __free_rcu() queues itself, so the one that didn't see 'draining' may do call_rcu_tasks_trace() after rcu_barrier_tasks_trace() in free_mem_alloc(). Queue it under rcu_read_lock() and do synchronize_rcu() before the barriers. Calling rcu_barrier_tasks_trace() twice works too, but creating and destroying hash maps in a loop on many cpus slows down to one free_mem_alloc() per GP and kworkers pile up.
Title bpf: Fix objects stuck in free_by_rcu_ttrace
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Oct 19, 2026, 9:25 AM
Reserved
Sep 25, 2026, 10:25 AM
Status
Received
Published
Oct 18, 2026, 4:17 PM
Modified
Oct 19, 2026, 10:19 AM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Oct 18, 2026, 12:00 AM