MediumCVE-2026-98631

    Linux Kernel: security vulnerability (CVE-2026-98631)

    Published Last modified Sources: Ubuntu, Debian LTS, SUSE, Msrc Update Guide, CVE.org, BSI

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    What is affected, what to do

    In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xsk: Use a 32-bit compare in xsk_map_gen_lookup xsk_map_gen_lookup() loads a u32 key and compares it with max_entries using BPF_JMP_IMM. BPF immediates are sign-extended to 64 bits, so a max_entries value of 0x80000000 or higher becomes a threshold larger than every zero-extended 32-bit key.

    Update Linux Kernel to version 5.10.271, Linux Kernel to version 5.15.222, Linux Kernel to version 6.1.189.

    Affected
    • Linux Kernel lt 5.5..5.10.271
    • Linux Kernel lt 5.11..5.15.222
    • Linux Kernel lt 5.16..6.1.189
    • Linux Kernel lt 6.2..6.6.158
    • Linux Kernel lt 6.7..6.12.112
    • Linux Kernel lt 6.13..6.18.55
    • Linux Kernel lt 6.19..7.2.9
    Fixed in
    • Linux Kernel 5.10.271
    • Linux Kernel 5.15.222
    • Linux Kernel 6.1.189
    • Linux Kernel 6.6.158
    • Linux Kernel 6.12.112
    • Linux Kernel 6.18.55
    • Linux Kernel 7.2.9
    • Linux Kernel 7.3

    Not sure whether and how you are affected? Ask a question about this vulnerability

    Metrics

    6.0

    Priority

    XIEM Effective CVSS: highest available CVSS rating from NVD and vendor data.

    Source: Vendor (CNA), CVSS v3

    6.0

    CVSS v3

    Severity Medium on the scale from 0 to 10.

    Source: Ubuntu, Debian LTS, SUSE, Msrc Update Guide, CVE.org, BSI

    0.2 %

    EPSS score

    Low — model estimates < 1% exploitation likelihood.

    Source: FIRST EPSS, percentile 11.3

    Show all metrics
    Severity
    Medium
    Priority (0–325)

    The priority score is a consolidated metric that condenses several individual signals into a single, action-guiding ranking: technical severity (CVSS), exploitation likelihood (EPSS), known-exploited status (KEV) and the context of the affected asset. The aim is to answer the only truly important question in vulnerability management: what first?

    Read in glossary
    61.02 Methodology
    Exploit maturity

    An exploit is code or a technique that specifically uses a concrete vulnerability to force unintended behaviour — such as executing code or escalating privileges. It is the tool that turns a theoretical flaw into a practical attack.

    Read in glossary
    no public PoC known
    XIEM Effective CVSS

    XIEM® is the tiered managed-security operating model from NEOSEC and a registered trademark of NEOSEC GmbH. It extends classic SIEM — the central collection, normalisation and correlation of security-relevant events — with endpoint forensics, network visibility and deception technology, and consolidates them into three building tiers: Sentry, Orchestrate and Command.

    Read in glossary
    6.0 Methodology
    CVSS v3

    CVSS is the globally established, open standard for assessing the technical severity of a vulnerability on a scale from 0 to 10. It describes how easily a flaw can be exploited and what damage it can cause — but not how likely its actual exploitation is. CVSS and the complementary EPSS deliberately answer different questions.

    Read in glossary
    6.0
    EPSS score

    The EPSS score is the absolute model output for an individual vulnerability: the estimated probability of real-world exploitation within the next 30 days, expressed as a value between 0 and 1 (i.e. 0 % to 100 %). A score of 0.42 means „the model estimates a 42 % chance of real-world exploitation within 30 days“.

    Read in glossary
    0.2 %
    Low — model estimates < 1% exploitation likelihood.
    EPSS percentile

    The EPSS percentile is the relative position of a vulnerability within all EPSS-scored CVEs, expressed as a value between 0 and 1. A percentile of 0.90 means „this CVE has a higher EPSS score than 90 % of all other scored CVEs“. Unlike the EPSS score, it is not a probability — but a positioning within a ranking.

    Read in glossary
    11.3
    Elevated — this CVE ranks above at least 10% of all CVEs scored today.
    KEV status

    The KEV catalogue is a list maintained by the US authority CISA of vulnerabilities for which active exploitation in the wild has been confirmed. It answers not the question „how severe?“ but „is it already being attacked?“ — thereby sharply prioritising patching.

    Read in glossary
    —
    Published

    Detection rules

    No NEOSEC detection rule is available for this vulnerability yet.

    Classification under NIS2 and CRA

    Rule-based classification from exploitation status and severity. It does not replace a case-by-case assessment.

    NIS2

    NIS2 is EU Directive (EU) 2022/2555 to raise the level of cybersecurity across the Union. It substantially broadens obligations compared with the first NIS directive: more sectors, mandatory risk management, staged reporting duties and personal accountability of senior management.

    Read in glossary
    Handle the vulnerability in regular vulnerability handling under Art. 21(2)(e) NIS2.
    CRA

    The CRA is EU Regulation (EU) 2024/2847 setting horizontal cybersecurity requirements for „products with digital elements“ — from industrial controllers and software to connected consumer devices. For the first time manufacturers must ensure security across the entire product lifecycle, handle vulnerabilities and provide security updates.

    Read in glossary
    From 11.12.2027, Annex I Part II CRA requires manufacturers of affected products with digital elements to handle vulnerabilities without delay and provide security updates.
    ISO/IEC 27001

    ISO/IEC 27001 is the internationally leading standard for an information security management system (ISMS). It describes a risk-based, process-oriented framework to systematically plan, implement, review and improve information security.

    Read in glossary
    Control A.8.8, management of technical vulnerabilities: assess relevance to your systems, plan remediation and keep evidence.

    Description

    In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xsk: Use a 32-bit compare in xsk_map_gen_lookup xsk_map_gen_lookup() loads a u32 key and compares it with max_entries using BPF_JMP_IMM. BPF immediates are sign-extended to 64 bits, so a max_entries value of 0x80000000 or higher becomes a threshold larger than every zero-extended 32-bit key. An out-of-range index then skips the bounds check and the generated lookup reads past xsk_map[]. Compare with BPF_JMP32_IMM so the check stays in 32-bit unsigned range.

    Source: Ubuntu Security Notices, Debian LTS Advisories, suse_csaf, Microsoft Security Update Guide, cvelistv5, NVD (NIST), BSI WID Portal, BSI CSAF

    Affected products

    The following versions are affected. Older releases of the same product line are also vulnerable unless stated otherwise.

    Affected products
    Affected versionsFixed in
    LinuxLinux
    • 5.16 – < 6.1.189
    • 6.13 – < 6.18.55
    • 6.2 – < 6.6.158
    • 5.5 – < 5.10.271
    • —
    • 6.7 – < 6.12.112
    • 5.11 – < 5.15.222
    • 6.19 – < 7.2.9
    • 6.1.189
    • 6.18.55
    • 6.6.158
    • 5.10.271
    • 7.3
    • 6.12.112
    • 5.15.222
    • 7.2.9

    Vendors and products

    Affected operating systems

    Affected operating systems
    Linuxubuntulinuxjammy
    Linuxubuntulinuxresolute
    Linuxdebianlinux-6.12bookworm
    Linuxubuntulinux-awsjammy
    Linuxubuntulinux-awsresolute
    Linuxubuntulinux-aws-5.15focal
    Linuxubuntulinux-aws-fipsjammy
    Linuxubuntulinux-azurejammy
    Linuxubuntulinux-azure-5.15focal
    Linuxubuntulinux-azure-fde-5.15focal
    Linuxubuntulinux-azure-fipsjammy
    Linuxubuntulinux-fipsjammy
    Linuxubuntulinux-gcpjammy
    Linuxubuntulinux-gcpresolute
    Linuxubuntulinux-gcp-5.15focal
    Linuxubuntulinux-gcp-fipsjammy
    Linuxubuntulinux-gkejammy
    Linuxubuntulinux-gkeopjammy
    Linuxubuntulinux-hwe-5.15focal
    Linuxubuntulinux-hwe-7.0noble
    Linuxubuntulinux-ibmjammy
    Linuxubuntulinux-ibmresolute
    Linuxubuntulinux-ibm-5.15focal
    Linuxubuntulinux-intel-iot-realtimejammy

    References & sources

    Changes to this CVE

    Who changed this CVE and when: NVD (analysis, affected products, CVSS), the CVE publisher (CNA) and additional providers such as CISA (ADP).

    1. Record modifiedLinux

      1 individual change: Affected versions (publisher)

      Show the original change
      Individual changes of this event as published by NVD
      TypeActionBeforeAfter
      Affected versions (publisher)added
      —
      Affected value modified. <a href="https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/blob/main/cves/2026/98xxx/CVE-2026-98631.json">CVE-2026-98631</a>

      Source identifier: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67

    2. ReceivedLinux

      Description added or changed

      Show 10 original changes
      Individual changes of this event as published by NVD
      TypeActionBeforeAfter
      Descriptionadded
      —
      In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xsk: Use a 32-bit compare in xsk_map_gen_lookup xsk_map_gen_lookup() loads a u32 key and compares it with max_entries using BPF_JMP_IMM. BPF immediates are sign-extended to 64 bits, so a max_entries value of 0x80000000 or higher becomes a threshold larger than every zero-extended 32-bit key. An out-of-range index then skips the bounds check and the generated lookup reads past xsk_map[]. Compare with BPF_JMP32_IMM so the check stays in 32-bit unsigned range.
      Affected versions (publisher)added
      —
      New affected value received. <a href="https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/blob/main/cves/2026/98xxx/CVE-2026-98631.json">CVE-2026-98631</a>
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/11d9be35c1f4233798e99be98bc474f83a254c6c
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/123f90f394ca404ab8796a7c8072ff7fa5b65a9c
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/227ec890559e922e235eb543646e3bf0bd8269b0
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/36461e58f88a1b723f86693f437ac12e60ff4363
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3c1e0a4bc156b8d5c5772dbc76b9ea74dce5ca24
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/70504de0bb627848667207bec7ccfd647deb8814
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b5c0cff0c5331582ab01c4c423731453a8381acc
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c6d5c582d55a8f229d75e98d62eaa065b0deb18d

      Source identifier: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67

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