Always-Incorrect Control Flow Implementation in Linux kernel - CVE-2026-98041
Published: September 28, 2026
Vulnerability identifier: #VU152441
CSH Severity: Low
CVSS v4: 7.3 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N]
CVE-ID: CVE-2026-98041
CWE-ID: CWE-670
Exploitation vector: Local access
Exploit availability:
No public exploit available
Vulnerability details
The vulnerability allows a local user to compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
The vulnerability exists due to incorrect branch prediction in the BPF verifier's is_branch_taken function when processing 32-bit BPF jump comparisons between pointers and zero. A local user can load a BPF program containing a 32-bit pointer-versus-zero comparison to compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Affected software
Linux kernel
How to mitigate CVE-2026-98041
Install security update from vendor's repository.
Linux kernel - update to 7.0 rc3