Linux Kernel: security vulnerability (CVE-2026-98639)
Published Last modified Sources: Ubuntu, BSI, Msrc Update Guide, CVE.org
What is affected, what to do
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: riscv: Fix NACL hfence entry update order The SBI v3.0 specification (section 15.1.2) requires a nested HFENCE entry to be populated as follows: 1) find an unused entry with Config.Pending == 0 2) update the Page_Number and Page_Count words 3) update the Config word with Config.Pending set __kvm_riscv_nacl_hfence() writes the Config word first, so the SBI implementation (or NACL hardware) can observe a pending entry with pnum/pcount values left over from the previous use of that entry, resulting in incorrect TLB flush ranges. Write pnum and pcount first and the Config word last.
Update Linux Kernel to version 6.18.55, Linux Kernel to version 7.2.9, Linux Kernel to version 7.3.
- Affected
- Linux Kernel
lt 6.13..6.18.55 - Linux Kernel
lt 6.19..7.2.9
- Linux Kernel
- Fixed in
- Linux Kernel
6.18.55 - Linux Kernel
7.2.9 - Linux Kernel
7.3
- Linux Kernel
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Metrics
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Priority
No value is available for this vulnerability.
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CVSS v3
No value is available for this vulnerability.
0.2 %
EPSS score
Low — model estimates < 1% exploitation likelihood.
Source: FIRST EPSS, percentile 5.8
Show all metrics
- Severity
- Not rated
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- 30.27 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
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- 5.8
- Low — this CVE sits in the lower 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: KVM: riscv: Fix NACL hfence entry update order The SBI v3.0 specification (section 15.1.2) requires a nested HFENCE entry to be populated as follows: 1) find an unused entry with Config.Pending == 0 2) update the Page_Number and Page_Count words 3) update the Config word with Config.Pending set __kvm_riscv_nacl_hfence() writes the Config word first, so the SBI implementation (or NACL hardware) can observe a pending entry with pnum/pcount values left over from the previous use of that entry, resulting in incorrect TLB flush ranges. Write pnum and pcount first and the Config word last. Since the consumer is an external agent on coherent shared memory, use WRITE_ONCE() to stop the compiler from reordering the stores and smp_wmb() to make the parameter words globally visible before the Pending bit is set.
Source: Ubuntu Security Notices, BSI WID Portal, BSI CSAF, Microsoft Security Update Guide, cvelistv5, NVD (NIST)
Affected products
The following versions are affected. Older releases of the same product line are also vulnerable unless stated otherwise.
| Affected versions | Fixed in | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux |
|
|
Vendors and products
Affected operating systems
| Linux | ubuntu | linux | resolute |
| Linux | ubuntu | linux-aws | resolute |
| Linux | ubuntu | linux-gcp | resolute |
| Linux | ubuntu | linux-hwe-7.0 | noble |
| Linux | ubuntu | linux-ibm | resolute |
| Linux | ubuntu | linux-oem-7.0 | resolute |
| Linux | ubuntu | linux-oracle | resolute |
References & sources
- git.kernel.orgstable/c/6da466502621381fa88a6684290923d25c559266
- git.kernel.orgstable/c/b3d346838ec65fac7fd83f5dbcedd13cadfffddb
- git.kernel.orgstable/c/d6de766d8d26d71b714f548192099112def50a9c
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).
Record modifiedLinux
1 individual change: Affected versions (publisher)
Show the original change
Individual changes of this event as published by NVD Type Action Before After Affected versions (publisher) added —Affected value modified. <a href="https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/blob/main/cves/2026/98xxx/CVE-2026-98639.json">CVE-2026-98639</a>Source identifier: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
ReceivedLinux
Description added or changed
Show 5 original changes
Individual changes of this event as published by NVD Type Action Before After Description added —In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: riscv: Fix NACL hfence entry update order The SBI v3.0 specification (section 15.1.2) requires a nested HFENCE entry to be populated as follows: 1) find an unused entry with Config.Pending == 0 2) update the Page_Number and Page_Count words 3) update the Config word with Config.Pending set __kvm_riscv_nacl_hfence() writes the Config word first, so the SBI implementation (or NACL hardware) can observe a pending entry with pnum/pcount values left over from the previous use of that entry, resulting in incorrect TLB flush ranges. Write pnum and pcount first and the Config word last. Since the consumer is an external agent on coherent shared memory, use WRITE_ONCE() to stop the compiler from reordering the stores and smp_wmb() to make the parameter words globally visible before the Pending bit is set.Affected versions (publisher) added —New affected value received. <a href="https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/blob/main/cves/2026/98xxx/CVE-2026-98639.json">CVE-2026-98639</a>Reference added —https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6da466502621381fa88a6684290923d25c559266Reference added —https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b3d346838ec65fac7fd83f5dbcedd13cadfffddbReference added —https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d6de766d8d26d71b714f548192099112def50a9cSource identifier: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
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<a href="https://intel.neosec.eu/en/cve/CVE-2026-98639"><img src="https://intel.neosec.eu/badge/cve/CVE-2026-98639.svg?lang=en" alt="CVE-2026-98639 – NEOSEC Intel" height="20"></a>