CVE-2026-92520: bpf: Zero queue and stack outputs on lock failure

Published Sep 17, 2026
·
Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

bpf: Zero queue and stack outputs on lock failure

Queue and stack pop/peek helpers accept an uninitialized output buffer because the verifier expects the helper to initialize it. The empty-map error path clears the buffer, but a failed lock acquisition returns -EBUSY without writing it.

Clear the output before returning -EBUSY so BPF programs cannot observe uninitialized stack contents after a failed helper call.

Affected Software

1 affected component
Linux Linux kernel

Event History

Sep 17, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·04:10 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·04:10 PM
Description

Frequently Asked Questions

1

Which BPF programs are exposed to this issue?

BPF programs that use queue or stack pop/peek helpers are exposed when a helper call fails to acquire its lock. The affected path returns -EBUSY without initializing the helper's output buffer.

2

What must happen for uninitialized data to be observable?

A queue or stack pop/peek helper must encounter a failed lock acquisition. In that case, the BPF program can observe uninitialized stack contents through the output buffer after the helper returns -EBUSY.

3

Does an empty queue or stack trigger the same behavior?

No. The empty-map error path already clears the output buffer; the issue is specific to the failed lock-acquisition path.

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