CVE-2026-98521: drm/i915: fix incorrect RCU teardown order

Q: What is the practical impact if this race occurs?

The fence iteration in i915_gem_busy_ioctl can restart indefinitely, resulting in an endless loop. This can leave the affected ioctl operation unable to complete.

Q: What concurrent condition is required to trigger the issue?

i915_gem_busy_ioctl must be iterating fences for a GEM object under the RCU read-side lock while that GEM object is destroyed concurrently. Destruction drops the dma_fence references and frees the old fence list without installing a replacement list.

Q: How can I check whether the fix is present in a kernel tree?

Compare the kernel source or vendor patch set with the referenced stable commits: 4d4ca84213327da1f84ef7af3946dea6b14c5d88, c53db9cc245219af6b528ca022a17ebfa91d80ba, and b12e041aedcf9fa77c6002a49f07eb20d0521b86. The fix defers dropping fence references until after the RCU grace period.

Published Oct 18, 2026

Updated

drm/i915: fix incorrect RCU teardown order

Affected Software

171 affected componentsFixes available

Linux Linux kernel

Microsoft azl3 kernel 6.6.157.1-1<6.6.159.1-1

6.6.159.1-1

All of the following

azurelinux/kernel<6.6.159.1-1

6.6.159.1-1

Microsoft Azure Linux=3.0

linux/kernel>=5.17.0<6.1.189

6.1.189

linux/kernel>=6.2.0<6.6.158

6.6.158

linux/kernel>=6.7.0<6.12.112

6.12.112

linux/kernel>=6.13.0<6.18.55

6.18.55

linux/kernel>=6.19.0<7.2.9

7.2.9

ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.0*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-azure-edge*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-gke-4.15*

ubuntu/linux-gke-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-hwe*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*

ubuntu/linux-oem*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.0*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-gke*

ubuntu/linux-gke-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-intel-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.10*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.6*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-raspi2*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-allwinner-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.17*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.0*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.1*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8*

ubuntu/linux*

ubuntu/linux-aws*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-aws-7.0*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-azure-7.0*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-7.0*

ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia*

ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-7.0*

ubuntu/linux-gke*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-7.0<7.0.0-42.42~24.04.1

7.0.0-42.42~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-ibm*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-7.0*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-oracle*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-7.0*

ubuntu/linux-raspi*

ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-7.0<7.0.0-42.42.1~24.04.1

7.0.0-42.42.1~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-vmware*

ubuntu/linux-xilinx*

ubuntu/linux-bluefield*

ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux<7.0.0-42.42

7.0.0-42.42

ubuntu/linux-aws<7.0.0-1016.17

7.0.0-1016.17

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-gcp<7.0.0-1016.18

7.0.0-1016.18

ubuntu/linux-gke*

ubuntu/linux-ibm<7.0.0-1017.17

7.0.0-1017.17

ubuntu/linux-nvidia*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-bos*

ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0<7.0.0-1017.17

7.0.0-1017.17

ubuntu/linux-oracle<7.0.0-1015.16

7.0.0-1015.16

ubuntu/linux-raspi*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv<7.0.0-42.42.1

7.0.0-42.42.1

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

Upgrade
Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.6.159.1-1
Upgrade
Upgrade azurelinux/kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.6.159.1-1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42.1~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.17
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.18
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1015.16
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42.1
Upgrade
Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.1.189
Upgrade
Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.6.158
Upgrade
Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.12.112
Upgrade
Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.18.55
Upgrade
Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.2.9
Upgrade
Upgrade Linux kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Patch 5113479556025093bf8133bb2dcaa33be2d50921

Event History

Oct 18, 2026

CVE Published

via MITRE·03:17 PM

Data Sourced

via MITRE·03:17 PM

Description

Data Sourced

via OSV·03:17 PM

DescriptionAffected Software

Data Sourced

via NVD·04:17 PM

Description

Oct 20, 2026

Data Sourced

via Microsoft·08:10 AM

DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software

Nov 10, 2026

Data Sourced

via OSV·02:53 AM

Severity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the practical impact if this race occurs?

The fence iteration in i915_gem_busy_ioctl can restart indefinitely, resulting in an endless loop. This can leave the affected ioctl operation unable to complete.

What concurrent condition is required to trigger the issue?

i915_gem_busy_ioctl must be iterating fences for a GEM object under the RCU read-side lock while that GEM object is destroyed concurrently. Destruction drops the dma_fence references and frees the old fence list without installing a replacement list.

How can I check whether the fix is present in a kernel tree?

Compare the kernel source or vendor patch set with the referenced stable commits: 4d4ca84213327da1f84ef7af3946dea6b14c5d88, c53db9cc245219af6b528ca022a17ebfa91d80ba, and b12e041aedcf9fa77c6002a49f07eb20d0521b86. The fix defers dropping fence references until after the RCU grace period.

CVE-2026-98521: drm/i915: fix incorrect RCU teardown order

Affected Software

Remediation

Event History

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the practical impact if this race occurs?

What concurrent condition is required to trigger the issue?

How can I check whether the fix is present in a kernel tree?

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