CVE-2026-98790 perf: Fix race between perf_event_exit_task() and perf_pending_task()
A race condition in the Linux kernel perf subsystem can trigger a warning and potential instability during process execution, requiring a kernel patch.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-98790?
CVE-2026-98790 is a vulnerability in Linux, published on 18 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:
perf: Fix race between perf_event_exit_task() and perf_pending_task()
A race condition exists between perf_event_exit_task() and perf_pending_task() during begin_new_exec().
During begin_new_exec(), perf_event_exit_task() may be called, and the PF_EXITING flag is not set on task. So perf_sigtrap() continues to execute and triggers WARN_ON_ONCE(event->ctx->task != current).
Since both task exit and exec paths can call perf_event_exit_task() which sets ctx->task to TASK_TOMBSTONE, fix this by explicitly checking if event->ctx->task equals TASK_TOMBSTONE and dropping the redundant PF_EXITING check.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-98790?
How do I fix CVE-2026-98790?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Is CVE-2026-98790 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-98790 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as AZL-109401, BELL-CVE-2026-98790, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-98790, GHSA-hx5j-phv4-m97w, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-98790.