CVE-2026-98558

net: flush skb_defer_nodes in dev_cpu_dead()

CVE-2026-98558 is fixed in linux on 1 platform by DEBIAN-CVE-2026-98558 (version 7.2.9-1), released October 19, 2026. It is not reported as exploited. Patch Radar priority: Routine.

Routine
CVSS
4.1
Moderate
Exploitation
None reported
No vendor assessment
CISA KEV
Not listed
Not in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
EPSS
0.0019
8th percentile

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: flush skb_defer_nodes in dev_cpu_dead() When a CPU goes offline, dev_cpu_dead() drains its softnet queues (completion_queue, output_queue, poll_list, process_queue, and input_pkt_queue), but leaves net_hotdata.skb_defer_nodes untouched. If oldcpu goes offline while holding pending skbs in its skb_defer_nodes lists (e.g. below the sysctl_skb_defer_max >> 1 IPI threshold, or if the IPI races with CPU teardown), those skbs remain stranded until oldcpu is brought back online. If any of these skbs hold page_pool fragments, page_pool_destroy() will stall indefinitely waiting for inflight pages to be returned when a netdev or driver is torn down while oldcpu is offline. Additionally, if smp_call_function_single_async() fails in kick_defer_list_purge() because the target CPU went offline, reset defer_ipi_scheduled to 0 so future IPI kicks are not blocked when the CPU comes back online. Also, if oldcpu was the last online CPU on its NUMA node, drain that node's slot across all CPUs so no skbs deferred from that node remain stranded on idle remote CPUs (or if the node itself is subsequently offlined). Finally, in skb_attempt_defer_free(), re-check cpu_online(cpu) and whether the caller migrated CPUs after llist_add(), flushing the node list if so, to close the preemption TOCTOU race against CPU/node teardown.

Where it's fixed

ProductFixed inFixReleased
Linux
linux · Debian 14 7.2.9-1 DEBIAN-CVE-2026-98558 Oct 19, 2026

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