CVE Catalog

CVE-2026-98558

Low risk· EPSS 8%
Published: Updated: Translated: NVD NIST

Exploitation Probability (EPSS)

Low risk
0.19%

8th percentile - higher than 8% of all known CVEs

Summary

In the Linux kernel, dev_cpu_dead() drained softnet queues on CPU offline but left net_hotdata.skb_defer_nodes untouched, stranding deferred skbs until the CPU came back online. This could stall page_pool_destroy() waiting for inflight pages and block future IPI kicks. The fix drains defer nodes, resets defer_ipi_scheduled, and re-checks CPU state in skb_attempt_defer_free().

Risk Assessment

Can cause indefinite stalls in page_pool destruction and resource leaks during CPU, netdev, or driver teardown. Affects systems with dynamic CPU management and page_pool.

Recommendation

Update the Linux kernel to a version containing the dev_cpu_dead() and skb_attempt_defer_free() fix. Avoid offlining CPUs on page_pool-heavy systems until patched.

Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

See all
Original NVD description (English source)

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: flush skb_defer_nodes in dev_cpu_dead() When a CPU goes offline, dev_cpu_dead() drains its softnet queues (completion_queue, output_queue, poll_list, process_queue, and input_pkt_queue), but leaves net_hotdata.skb_defer_nodes untouched. If oldcpu goes offline while holding pending skbs in its skb_defer_nodes lists (e.g. below the sysctl_skb_defer_max >> 1 IPI threshold, or if the IPI races with CPU teardown), those skbs remain stranded until oldcpu is brought back online. If any of these skbs hold page_pool fragments, page_pool_destroy() will stall indefinitely waiting for inflight pages to be returned when a netdev or driver is torn down while oldcpu is offline. Additionally, if smp_call_function_single_async() fails in kick_defer_list_purge() because the target CPU went offline, reset defer_ipi_scheduled to 0 so future IPI kicks are not blocked when the CPU comes back online. Also, if oldcpu was the last online CPU on its NUMA node, drain that node's slot across all CPUs so no skbs deferred from that node remain stranded on idle remote CPUs (or if the node itself is subsequently offlined). Finally, in skb_attempt_defer_free(), re-check cpu_online(cpu) and whether the caller migrated CPUs after llist_add(), flushing the node list if so, to close the preemption TOCTOU race against CPU/node teardown.

Vulnerability data from NVD (NIST) · CISA KEV · EPSS