Linux Kernel up to 7.2.10 riscv user_regset_copyin iov_len missing initialization

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2.10. It has been declared as very critical. The impacted element is the function user_regset_copyin of the component riscv. The manipulation of the argument iov_len results in missing initialization. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-98951. The attack needs to be approached locally. There is no available exploit. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as very critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2.10. Affected is the function user_regset_copyin of the component riscv. The manipulation of the argument iov_len with an unknown input leads to a missing initialization vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-456. The product does not initialize critical variables, which causes the execution environment to use unexpected values. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: riscv: ptrace: Zero-initialize regset buffers before copyin user_regset_copyin() only copies `count` bytes, so a PTRACE_SETREGSET request with a short iov_len leaves the rest of the stack buffer uninitialized. In riscv_vr_set() that garbage is validated and copied into the target's vstate, and in riscv_cfi_set() it can be stored as the target's shadow stack pointer. Zero both buffers, as the get path already does.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-98951 since 09/25/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. Local access is required to approach this attack. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 10/23/2026).

Upgrading to version 7.2.11 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 89fc70d73f4ac8781f9e15edd1dbc6b6088453b3/59052a88ba5fe4a7bb34b3a0a42aa5d453d3bb97 is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

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Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 7.2.0
• 7.2.1
• 7.2.2
• 7.2.3
• 7.2.4
• 7.2.5
• 7.2.6
• 7.2.7
• 7.2.8
• 7.2.9
• 7.2.10

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

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