CVE-2026-89962 — powerpc/kexec_file: Prevent kexec range truncation
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: powerpc/kexec_file: Prevent kexec range truncation Sashiko AI review pointed out the following issue. The __merge_memory_ranges() function incorrectly handles overlapping memory ranges when merging them. Although sort_memory_ranges() sorts all ranges by their start address in ascending order beforehand, the merge logic remains defective in two ways: 1. It compares the current range's start against the previous element (i-1) instead of the running target index (idx) 2. It unconditionally overwrites 'ranges[idx].end' with 'ranges[i].end'. This logic flaw leads to critical memory truncation when a larger memory range completely subsumes subsequent smaller ranges. For example, consider a sorted input array with three ranges: Range A (idx=0): [0x1000 - 0x9000] Range B (i=1): [0x2000 - 0x5000] (completely inside Range A) Range C (i=2): [0x6000 - 0x8000] (completely inside Range A) 1. When i=1 (Range B): ranges[1].start (0x2000) <= ranges[0].end + 1 (0x9001) is TRUE. The code executes: ranges[0].end = ranges[1].end, which erroneously shrinks Range A's end from 0x9000 down to 0x5000. 2. When i=2 (Range C): ranges[2].start (0x6000) <= ranges[1].end + 1 (0x5001) is FALSE. The code falls into the else block, creating a broken new range. As a result, valid memory fragments [0x5001 - 0x5fff] and [0x8001 - 0x9000] are completely lost from the kexec exclude lists, potentially allowing the crash kernel to overwrite active memory, causing data corruption or crashes. Fix this by ensuring the start of the current range is compared against the end of the active merged range (idx), and use max() to safely prevent the outer boundary from being truncated.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- EPSS 0.2% (30-day exploitation probability)+2
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
No fix documented by the sources we poll. That does not mean none exists: check the vendor advisory.
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Linux Linux).
- No fix documented in the sources: reduce exposure and monitor the vendor advisory.
- Search available logs for exploit probes, errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | ≥ 180adfc532a83c1d74146449f7385f767d4b8059 and < 9ef63622e6cee588ea4b763a6afc87065254b36a≥ 180adfc532a83c1d74146449f7385f767d4b8059 and < da88a2a2119e4fd0e8919a7a2448682f574e1545≥ 180adfc532a83c1d74146449f7385f767d4b8059 and < c4cb547f26d9b73b489c5278d0c8db837c5a174f≥ 180adfc532a83c1d74146449f7385f767d4b8059 and < fa40f9dbdd4af53e7445d9135b5b207eb8adf372version 5.9 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
EPSS over time FIRST
Oct 15, 2026 → Oct 19, 2026 · 4 reading(s) · max 0.21%
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Not enough vector or weakness data: use the affected application’s logs as a starting point.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Record published
- Affected products added · linux/linux
- Source status changed · → Received
- Record created in this database
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 1× References added · Oct 19, 2026 – Oct 19, 2026
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 15, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026
References
6 on the record
- github.com/advisories/GHSA-52p7-4c9h-jcc7
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-89962
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c4cb547f26d9b73b489c5278d0c8db837c5a174f
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9ef63622e6cee588ea4b763a6afc87065254b36a
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/da88a2a2119e4fd0e8919a7a2448682f574e1545
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/fa40f9dbdd4af53e7445d9135b5b207eb8adf372
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Unknown CVE-2026-98866 sched/cache: Introduce task_struct->sched_cache_grp to fix UAF 2d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98867 dm-pcache: bound the logical key offset from persistent memory 2d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98868 dm-pcache: reject a kset that overruns its segment 2d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98856 kprobes: Skip disarmed probes when checking optkprobe overlap 2d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98857 ipvs: bound LBLCR and LBLC cache growth 2d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98858 io_uring: fix task_work add use-after-free with SQPOLL 2d
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No CVSS score published by NVD, the CNA, CISA or GitHub so far.
- No fixed version, patch or mitigation documented.
- No CISA SSVC assessment.
- No CWE classification.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2026-89962 is "powerpc/kexec_file: Prevent kexec range truncation", rated Unknown. It affects Linux (Linux); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. EPSS 0.21% estimates the probability of exploitation in 30 days; neither replaces your asset context. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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