CVE-2026-98937: perf/core: Check kernel access when kernel callchains are requested

Q: Who is exposed to this issue?

Systems running an affected Linux kernel are exposed when unprivileged users can invoke perf_event_open() and request kernel callchain collection. The issue concerns requests that set exclude_kernel while leaving kernel callchains enabled.

Q: What does an attacker need to do to trigger the vulnerable behavior?

An attacker needs to use perf_event_open() to request kernel callchain capture with attr.exclude_kernel set to 1 and attr.exclude_callchain_kernel set to 0. In the vulnerable implementation, this request did not invoke the kernel-profiling permission check.

Q: How can administrators determine whether a system may be affected?

Review whether the running kernel includes the referenced stable fixes and whether local users can make perf_event_open() requests. A potentially affected request excludes kernel sampling but does not exclude kernel callchains.

Published Oct 23, 2026

Updated

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

perf/core: Check kernel access when kernel callchains are requested

perfeventopen() currently gates perfallowkernel() only on !attr.excludekernel.

However, users can still request kernel callchain collection with attr.excludecallchainkernel == 0 even when attr.excludekernel == 1. That still requires kernel profiling privilege, but the existing check does not enforce it.

Update the permission check to call perfallowkernel() when either kernel sampling is requested or kernel callchains are requested.

This keeps permission checks aligned with requested data and prevents unprivileged use of kernel callchain capture.

Affected Software

257 affected componentsFixes available

Linux Linux kernel

ubuntu/linux*

ubuntu/linux-aws*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-lts-xenial*

ubuntu/linux*

ubuntu/linux-aws*

ubuntu/linux-aws-hwe*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-hwe*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*

ubuntu/linux-kvm*

ubuntu/linux-oracle*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux*

ubuntu/linux-aws*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.0*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-4.15*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-azure-edge*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-4.15*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-gke-4.15*

ubuntu/linux-gke-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-hwe*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*

ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-kvm*

ubuntu/linux-oem*

ubuntu/linux-oracle*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.0*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-raspi-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux*

ubuntu/linux-aws*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-bluefield*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15*

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-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-ibm*

ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-intel-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-iot*

ubuntu/linux-kvm*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.10*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.6*

ubuntu/linux-oracle*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-raspi*

ubuntu/linux-raspi2*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmp*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux*

ubuntu/linux-allwinner-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-aws*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8<6.8.0-1069.74~22.04.1

6.8.0-1069.74~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8<6.8.0-1073.82~22.04.1

6.8.0-1073.82~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8<6.8.0-1071.78~22.04.1

6.8.0-1071.78~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8<6.8.0-1073.81~22.04.1

6.8.0-1073.81~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-gke*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-ibm*

ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8<6.8.0-1069.70~22.04.1

6.8.0-1069.70~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg*

ubuntu/linux-kvm*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8<6.8.0-149.149.1~22.04.1

6.8.0-149.149.1~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-nvidia*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-igx*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.17*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.0*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.1*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-oracle*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8<6.8.0-1067.71~22.04.1

6.8.0-1067.71~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-raspi*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8<6.8.0-149.149~22.04.2

6.8.0-149.149~22.04.2

ubuntu/linux-starfive-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmp*

ubuntu/linux-bluefield*

ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8<6.8.1-1064.65~22.04.1

6.8.1-1064.65~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux<6.8.0-149.149

6.8.0-149.149

ubuntu/linux-aws<6.8.0-1069.74

6.8.0-1069.74

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-aws-7.0<7.0.0-1017.18~24.04.1

7.0.0-1017.18~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure<6.8.0-1073.82

6.8.0-1073.82

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<7.0.0-1019.19~24.04.1

7.0.0-1019.19~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia*

ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-gcp<6.8.0-1073.81

6.8.0-1073.81

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-7.0<7.0.0-1017.19~24.04.1

7.0.0-1017.19~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-gke<6.8.0-1068.77

6.8.0-1068.77

ubuntu/linux-gkeop<6.8.0-1053.57

6.8.0-1053.57

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-7.0*

ubuntu/linux-ibm<6.8.0-1069.70

6.8.0-1069.70

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<6.8.0-149.149.1

6.8.0-149.149.1

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia<6.8.0-1067.70

6.8.0-1067.70

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<6.8.0-1067.71

6.8.0-1067.71

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-7.0<7.0.0-1016.18~24.04.1

7.0.0-1016.18~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-raspi<6.8.0-1068.72

6.8.0-1068.72

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<7.0.0-43.43.1~24.04.2

7.0.0-43.43.1~24.04.2

ubuntu/linux-vmware<6.8.0-1010.10

6.8.0-1010.10

ubuntu/linux-xilinx*

ubuntu/linux-bluefield<6.8.0-1036.41

6.8.0-1036.41

ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime<6.8.0-2056.58

6.8.0-2056.58

ubuntu/linux-realtime<6.8.1-1064.65

6.8.1-1064.65

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<6.8.0-1069.74+fips1

6.8.0-1069.74+fips1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<6.8.0-1073.82+fips1

6.8.0-1073.82+fips1

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<6.8.0-1073.81+fips1

6.8.0-1073.81+fips1

ubuntu/linux<7.0.0-43.43

7.0.0-43.43

ubuntu/linux-aws<7.0.0-1017.18

7.0.0-1017.18

ubuntu/linux-azure<7.0.0-1020.21

7.0.0-1020.21

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<7.0.0-1019.19

7.0.0-1019.19

ubuntu/linux-gcp<7.0.0-1017.19

7.0.0-1017.19

ubuntu/linux-gke<7.0.0-1010.11

7.0.0-1010.11

ubuntu/linux-ibm<7.0.0-1018.18

7.0.0-1018.18

ubuntu/linux-nvidia*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-bos*

ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0<7.0.0-1018.18

7.0.0-1018.18

ubuntu/linux-oracle<7.0.0-1016.18

7.0.0-1016.18

ubuntu/linux-raspi*

ubuntu/linux-realtime<7.0.0-43.43.1

7.0.0-43.43.1

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-vmware*

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1069.74~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1073.82~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.78~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1073.81~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1069.70~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-149.149.1~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.71~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-149.149~22.04.2
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.1-1064.65~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-149.149
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1069.74
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.18~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1073.82
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1019.19~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1073.81
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.19~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1068.77
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gkeop to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1053.57
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1069.70
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-149.149.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.70
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.71
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.18~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1068.72
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-43.43.1~24.04.2
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-vmware to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1010.10
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-bluefield to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1036.41
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-2056.58
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.1-1064.65
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1069.74+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1073.82+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1073.81+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-43.43
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.18
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1020.21
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1019.19
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.19
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1010.11
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1018.18
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1018.18
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.18
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-43.43.1

Event History

Oct 23, 2026

CVE Published

via MITRE·12:11 PM

Data Sourced

via MITRE·12:11 PM

Description

Data Sourced

via OSV·01:17 PM

DescriptionSeverityAffected Software

Data Sourced

via NVD·01:17 PM

Description

Oct 24, 2026

Data Sourced

via Microsoft·08:08 AM

DescriptionSeverityWeakness

Oct 31, 2026

Exploit Published

via GitHub·08:13 PM

Nov 7, 2026

Event

via FIRST·12:00 AM

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is exposed to this issue?

Systems running an affected Linux kernel are exposed when unprivileged users can invoke perf_event_open() and request kernel callchain collection. The issue concerns requests that set exclude_kernel while leaving kernel callchains enabled.

What does an attacker need to do to trigger the vulnerable behavior?

An attacker needs to use perf_event_open() to request kernel callchain capture with attr.exclude_kernel set to 1 and attr.exclude_callchain_kernel set to 0. In the vulnerable implementation, this request did not invoke the kernel-profiling permission check.

How can administrators determine whether a system may be affected?

Review whether the running kernel includes the referenced stable fixes and whether local users can make perf_event_open() requests. A potentially affected request excludes kernel sampling but does not exclude kernel callchains.

CVE-2026-98937: perf/core: Check kernel access when kernel callchains are requested

Affected Software

Remediation

Event History

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is exposed to this issue?

What does an attacker need to do to trigger the vulnerable behavior?

How can administrators determine whether a system may be affected?

Company

Resources

Contact