# CVE-2026-98049: bpf: zero extend the result of an arena 32-bit cmpxchg

> A missing zero-extension in BPF arena cmpxchg operations can lead to incorrect register states, potentially causing logic errors or undefined behavior in kernel BPF programs.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 25 Sep 2026
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2026-98049, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-98049, GHSA-wmcq-6rpv-m375, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-98049

## What is CVE-2026-98049?

CVE-2026-98049 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 25 Sep 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

bpf: zero extend the result of an arena 32-bit cmpxchg

bpf_convert_ctx_accesses() rewrites an atomic on an arena pointer from
BPF_STX | BPF_ATOMIC to BPF_STX | BPF_PROBE_ATOMIC, and it runs before
bpf_opt_subreg_zext_lo32_rnd_hi32().

That pass emits an explicit zero extension for a 32-bit cmpxchg even
when bpf_jit_needs_zext() is false. This is done because on some
architectures 32-bit cmpxchg requires explicit zero extension for the
dst register. E.g. on x86-64 'lock cmpxchg' does not change the %eax
if comparison is successful, while BPF semantics declare that each
operation on a 32-bit register zero extends it's upper half.

is_cmpxchg_insn() matches BPF_MODE == BPF_ATOMIC only, so an arena
cmpxchg misses said zero extension adjustment. This patch adjusts
is_cmpxchg_insn() to match BPF_PROBE_ATOMIC alongside BPF_ATOMIC.

Weakness: CWE-681 (Incorrect Conversion between Numeric Types)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-98049?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-98049?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2026-98049 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-98049 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

- [CVE-2026-53266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-98049 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-98049 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 25 Sep 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-98049 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux kernel. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-98049/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-98049/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98049
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98049
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-98049

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-98049/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.