CVE-2026-98888 — arm64: kprobes: Allow reentering kprobes while single-stepping
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: arm64: kprobes: Allow reentering kprobes while single-stepping A kprobe can be hit while another kprobe is in KPROBE_HIT_SS state. This can happen when tracing or perf code runs from the debug exception path while the first kprobe is preparing or executing its out-of-line single-step instruction. Currently arm64 treats a kprobe hit in KPROBE_HIT_SS as unrecoverable, the same as a hit in KPROBE_REENTER. This is too strict. A hit in KPROBE_HIT_SS is still a one-level reentry and can be handled by saving the current kprobe state and setting up single-step for the new probe, just like reentry from KPROBE_HIT_ACTIVE or KPROBE_HIT_SSDONE. The truly unrecoverable case is hitting another kprobe while already in KPROBE_REENTER, because the reentry save area has already been consumed. Move KPROBE_HIT_SS to the recoverable reentry cases and leave KPROBE_REENTER as the unrecoverable nested reentry case. This change also requires saving saved_irqflag in struct prev_kprobe. When a nested kprobe calls kprobes_save_local_irqflag(), it overwrites kcb->saved_irqflag with the currently masked DAIF value, losing the outer kprobe's original DAIF state. Without this fix, when the outer kprobe's single-step finishes, kprobes_restore_local_irqflag() applies the wrong DAIF mask and leaves interrupts permanently disabled. Extend struct prev_kprobe with a saved_irqflag field and save/restore it alongside kp and status. This ensures the outer kprobe's original interrupt state is preserved across reentry. This mirrors the x86 fix in commit 6a5022a56ac3 ("kprobes/x86: Allow to handle reentered kprobe on single-stepping").
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)+1
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 | ≥ 2dd0e8d2d2a157dbc83295a78336c2217110f2f8 and < bb0fe9121aa0824211aafa33c7d0151fd25ddb75≥ 2dd0e8d2d2a157dbc83295a78336c2217110f2f8 and < f96a0606de6bcc8d937b80e6470fd7a174c17e26≥ 2dd0e8d2d2a157dbc83295a78336c2217110f2f8 and < 1f342b3e44c3035a837b53b217d816f7511c0d0a≥ 2dd0e8d2d2a157dbc83295a78336c2217110f2f8 and < c8e84e292ed4cfc199824146da71bb4397b02a1f≥ 2dd0e8d2d2a157dbc83295a78336c2217110f2f8 and < 68774caca799e9695db56d426c69acebd041c2ed≥ 2dd0e8d2d2a157dbc83295a78336c2217110f2f8 and < a21bf9cb893126e8d9730995708d0be5eb167652≥ 2dd0e8d2d2a157dbc83295a78336c2217110f2f8 and < 23f851ac0078a908bf3422d6467ebc1db5828c46version 4.8 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
EPSS over time FIRST
Oct 24, 2026 → Oct 29, 2026 · 6 reading(s) · max 0.22%
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
- Affected products removed · 14
- Affected products added · linux/linux
- 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.
- 2× References added · Oct 23, 2026 – Oct 26, 2026
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 23, 2026 – Oct 23, 2026
References
9 on the record
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c8e84e292ed4cfc199824146da71bb4397b02a1f
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/68774caca799e9695db56d426c69acebd041c2ed
- github.com/advisories/GHSA-g4px-h95h-7mgm
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98888
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f96a0606de6bcc8d937b80e6470fd7a174c17e26
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/bb0fe9121aa0824211aafa33c7d0151fd25ddb75
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1f342b3e44c3035a837b53b217d816f7511c0d0a
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a21bf9cb893126e8d9730995708d0be5eb167652
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/23f851ac0078a908bf3422d6467ebc1db5828c46
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Unknown CVE-2026-99216 Drivers: hv: Don't reset VMBus connection state on error/exit paths 2d
- Unknown CVE-2026-99215 power: supply: core: prevent unregistering a power supply while a callback runs 2d
- Unknown CVE-2026-99207 scsi: target: Disable interrupts while holding delayed_cmd_lock 2d
- Unknown CVE-2026-99208 drm/xe/oa: Zero OA buffer at allocation 2d
- Unknown CVE-2026-99209 drm/xe: skip eviction of a BO with no resource 2d
- Unknown CVE-2026-99210 accel/rocket: clear rdev on device init failure 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-2026-98888 is "arm64: kprobes: Allow reentering kprobes while single-stepping", 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 0.19% 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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