CVE-2026-98044 affecting package kernel 6.6.157.1-1
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf: Reject legacy packet loads from callbacks check_ld_abs() models a failed BPF_LD_ABS or BPF_LD_IND in a subprogram as an implicit return with R0 set to zero. It calls prepare_func_exit() to explore this synthesized path. When the load is reached directly from a synchronous callback, prepare_func_exit() enforces the callback return contract and marks R0 precise. R0 is not derived from a real instruction on this path, so precision backtracking reaches the callback call with R0 still requested and triggers the "callback unexpected regs" verifier bug. A privileged program loader can therefore cause a verifier warning and an -EFAULT BPF_PROG_LOAD. These legacy packet-load instructions are deprecated. Reject them from callbacks rather than complicating their implicit-return model. Check all active frames before constructing the implicit return so nested static subprograms cannot hide the callback context. Global functions are verified independently with a fresh frame zero, so an active-frame check cannot identify a global function called from a callback. Also check the complete subprogram call graph during stack-depth validation and reject a function containing a legacy load when any caller is a callback. This covers global and static descendants without making has_ld_abs transitive, preserving its per-function BTF return-type check. Ordinary uses outside callbacks remain supported.
- Products
- kernel
- Affected versions
- Not specified
- Fixed versions
- Not specified
- CVEs
- CVE-2026-98044
- Confirmed fixed CVEs
- Not specified
- Updated in this feed
- 31 Oct 2026, 17:42 UTC · Revision 1
Source evidence
CVE-2026-98044 affecting package kernel 6.6.157.1-1
core-osv · Original sourcePublished 25 Sept 2026, 11:17 UTC
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf: Reject legacy packet loads from callbacks check_ld_abs() models a failed BPF_LD_ABS or BPF_LD_IND in a subprogram as an implicit return with R0 set to zero. It calls prepare_func_exit() to explore this synthesized path. When the load is reached directly from a synchronous callback, prepare_func_exit() enforces the callback return contract and marks R0 precise. R0 is not derived from a real instruction on this path, so precision backtracking reaches the callback call with R0 still requested and triggers the "callback unexpected regs" verifier bug. A privileged program loader can therefore cause a verifier warning and an -EFAULT BPF_PROG_LOAD. These legacy packet-load instructions are deprecated. Reject them from callbacks rather than complicating their implicit-return model. Check all active frames before constructing the implicit return so nested static subprograms cannot hide the callback context. Global functions are verified independently with a fresh frame zero, so an active-frame check cannot identify a global function called from a callback. Also check the complete subprogram call graph during stack-depth validation and reject a function containing a legacy load when any caller is a callback. This covers global and static descendants without making has_ld_abs transitive, preserving its per-function BTF return-type check. Ordinary uses outside callbacks remain supported.
osv:AZL-104184
kernel
Fixed versions: Not specified
Complete source record
{
"id": "70e111589a4e19e929a0de2dabd8271c62745eba8fb0eac6e839838b70b7e2c1",
"url": "https://osv.dev/vulnerability/AZL-104184",
"method": "structured",
"payload": {
"kind": "advisory",
"title": "CVE-2026-98044 affecting package kernel 6.6.157.1-1",
"summary": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf: Reject legacy packet loads from callbacks check_ld_abs() models a failed BPF_LD_ABS or BPF_LD_IND in a subprogram as an implicit return with R0 set to zero. It calls prepare_func_exit() to explore this synthesized path. When the load is reached directly from a synchronous callback, prepare_func_exit() enforces the callback return contract and marks R0 precise. R0 is not derived from a real instruction on this path, so precision backtracking reaches the callback call with R0 still requested and triggers the \"callback unexpected regs\" verifier bug. A privileged program loader can therefore cause a verifier warning and an -EFAULT BPF_PROG_LOAD. These legacy packet-load instructions are deprecated. Reject them from callbacks rather than complicating their implicit-return model. Check all active frames before constructing the implicit return so nested static subprograms cannot hide the callback context. Global functions are verified independently with a fresh frame zero, so an active-frame check cannot identify a global function called from a callback. Also check the complete subprogram call graph during stack-depth validation and reject a function containing a legacy load when any caller is a callback. This covers global and static descendants without making has_ld_abs transitive, preserving its per-function BTF return-type check. Ordinary uses outside callbacks remain supported.",
"evidence": "osv:AZL-104184",
"products": [
{
"name": {
"value": "kernel",
"evidence": "/affected/0/package/name"
},
"prerequisites": [],
"fixed_versions": [],
"affected_versions": []
}
],
"severity": "unknown",
"structured": {
"id": "AZL-104184",
"aliases": [
"AZL-104184"
],
"affected": [
{
"ranges": [
{
"type": "ECOSYSTEM",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"last_affected": "6.6.157.1-1"
}
]
}
],
"package": {
"name": "kernel",
"purl": "pkg:rpm/azure-linux/kernel",
"ecosystem": "Azure Linux:3"
},
"database_specific": {
"source": "https://github.com/microsoft/AzureLinuxVulnerabilityData/blob/main/osv/AZL-104184.json"
}
}
],
"modified": "2026-10-22T05:35:55Z",
"provider": "osv",
"upstream": [
"CVE-2026-98044"
],
"references": [
"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98044"
]
},
"related_cves": [
{
"value": "CVE-2026-98044",
"evidence": "/upstream"
}
],
"security_relevant": true,
"severity_evidence": null
},
"source_id": "core-osv",
"document_id": 404417,
"published_at": "2026-09-25T11:17:33+00:00"
}