CVE-2026-98219 sched_ext: Close the pre-enable ops error claim window
A race condition in the Linux kernel's sched_ext subsystem allows a use-after-free, potentially leading to privilege escalation or code execution.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- An administrator
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-98219?
CVE-2026-98219 is an use after free vulnerability in Linux, published on 6 Oct 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:
sched_ext: Close the pre-enable ops error claim window
scx_alloc_and_add_sched() publishes ops->priv before scx_root_enable_workfn() switches the state to SCX_ENABLING. An error claimed via scx_bpf_error_bstr() from an associated BPF program in that window is consumed by scx_disable_workfn(), which takes the pre-enable shortcut in scx_root_disable(). The shortcut returns without any teardown and restores SCX_DISABLED with an unconditional scx_set_enable_state() xchg racing the enable workfn's own transition. The enable then completes with the claim consumed: the scheduler stays up but can never be disabled again, and bpf_scx_unreg() frees it while still in use, resulting in a use-after-free. Both WARN_ON_ONCE()s fire back to back:
WARNING: kernel/sched/ext/ext.c:7522 at scx_root_enable_workfn+0xeec/0x1be0, CPU#3: scx_enable_help/276
WARNING: kernel/sched/ext/ext.c:6398 at scx_root_disable+0xb50/0xdb8, CPU#0: sched_ext_helpe/664
scx_root_enable_workfn() switches to SCX_ENABLING before the scheduler allocation, so ops->priv is never visible while SCX_DISABLED. The allocation failure path restores SCX_DISABLED.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-98219?
How do I fix CVE-2026-98219?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2026-98219 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-98219 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2026-98219, GHSA-fmhg-ffq7-4rm5, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-98219.