# CVE-2026-98084: bpf: backtracking shouldn't clear outer frame R1-R5 for callbacks

CVE-2026-98084 is fixed in 38 products on 1 platform, first by DEBIAN-CVE-2026-98084, released October 2, 2026. It is not reported as exploited. Patch Radar priority: Routine.

- Web page: https://patchblox.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-98084
- Priority: Routine
- CVSS: 6.3 (Moderate)
- EPSS: 0.0017
- CISA KEV: not listed
- Exploited (vendor report): no
- Publicly disclosed: no
- Published: Sep 25, 2026
- Vendor advisory: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-98084

## Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:  bpf: backtracking shouldn't clear outer frame R1-R5 for callbacks  When processing calls to bpf_loop() verifier marks R1 (and R4) as precise. R1 tracks loop iterations number and because of the 'callback_depth < R1' mechanics in check_helper_call() must be marked precise. However, precision propagation for R1 was broken, when bpf_loop() call was verified on a second iteration.  Consider the following verification trace: - main: bpf_loop(nr_loops, callback ...) - callback: BPF_EXIT - main: bpf_loop(nr_loops, callback ...) - ...  While the first visit of the call to bpf_loop() propagated R1 precision as expected, the second call to mark_chain_precision() in the check_helper_call() set R1, but it was immediately reset when backtrack_insn() processed preceding BPF_EXIT in the loop deleted in this patch.  Because of that, the second visit of the call to bpf_loop() injected checkpoint with R1 not marked as precise. Which could trick the verifier into accepting unsafe programs. See the next patch for an example of such program.  Commit is structured in a way to minimize conflicts when 'bpf' would be eventually merged with 'bpf-next'.

## Where it's fixed

| Platform | Product | Fixed in | Fix | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | bpftool6.12 amzn 2023 | 1:6.12.113-138.209.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3335](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3335.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | bpftool6.12-debuginfo amzn 2023 | 1:6.12.113-138.209.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3335](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3335.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | bpftool6.18 amzn 2023 | 1:6.18.56-125.164.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3251](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3251.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | bpftool6.18-debuginfo amzn 2023 | 1:6.18.56-125.164.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3251](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3251.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-livepatch-6.12.113-138.209 amzn 2023 | 1:1.0-0.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3335](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3335.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-livepatch-6.18.56-125.164 amzn 2023 | 1:1.0-0.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3251](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3251.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel6.12 amzn 2023 | 1:6.12.113-138.209.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3335](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3335.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel6.12-debuginfo amzn 2023 | 1:6.12.113-138.209.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3335](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3335.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel6.12-debuginfo-common-aarch64 amzn 2023 | 1:6.12.113-138.209.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3335](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3335.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel6.12-debuginfo-common-x86_64 amzn 2023 | 1:6.12.113-138.209.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3335](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3335.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel6.12-devel amzn 2023 | 1:6.12.113-138.209.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3335](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3335.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel6.12-headers amzn 2023 | 1:6.12.113-138.209.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3335](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3335.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel6.12-modules-extra amzn 2023 | 1:6.12.113-138.209.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3335](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3335.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel6.12-modules-extra-common amzn 2023 | 1:6.12.113-138.209.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3335](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3335.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel6.12-tools amzn 2023 | 1:6.12.113-138.209.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3335](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3335.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel6.12-tools-debuginfo amzn 2023 | 1:6.12.113-138.209.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3335](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3335.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel6.12-tools-devel amzn 2023 | 1:6.12.113-138.209.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3335](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3335.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel6.18 amzn 2023 | 1:6.18.56-125.164.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3251](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3251.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel6.18-debuginfo amzn 2023 | 1:6.18.56-125.164.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3251](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3251.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel6.18-debuginfo-common-aarch64 amzn 2023 | 1:6.18.56-125.164.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3251](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3251.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel6.18-debuginfo-common-x86_64 amzn 2023 | 1:6.18.56-125.164.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3251](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3251.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel6.18-devel amzn 2023 | 1:6.18.56-125.164.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3251](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3251.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel6.18-headers amzn 2023 | 1:6.18.56-125.164.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3251](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3251.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel6.18-modules-extra amzn 2023 | 1:6.18.56-125.164.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3251](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3251.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel6.18-modules-extra-common amzn 2023 | 1:6.18.56-125.164.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3251](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3251.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel6.18-tools amzn 2023 | 1:6.18.56-125.164.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3251](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3251.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel6.18-tools-debuginfo amzn 2023 | 1:6.18.56-125.164.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3251](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3251.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel6.18-tools-devel amzn 2023 | 1:6.18.56-125.164.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3251](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3251.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | linux Debian 13.5 (trixie) | 6.12.115-2 | [DEBIAN-CVE-2026-98084](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/debian-cve-2026-98084.md) | Oct 2, 2026 |
| Linux | linux Debian 14 | 7.2.7-1 | [DEBIAN-CVE-2026-98084](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/debian-cve-2026-98084.md) | Oct 2, 2026 |
| Linux | microvm-kernel6.18 amzn 2023 | 1:6.18.56-125.164.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3251](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3251.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | perf6.12 amzn 2023 | 1:6.12.113-138.209.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3335](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3335.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | perf6.12-debuginfo amzn 2023 | 1:6.12.113-138.209.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3335](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3335.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | perf6.18 amzn 2023 | 1:6.18.56-125.164.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3251](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3251.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | perf6.18-debuginfo amzn 2023 | 1:6.18.56-125.164.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3251](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3251.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | python3-perf6.12 amzn 2023 | 1:6.12.113-138.209.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3335](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3335.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | python3-perf6.12-debuginfo amzn 2023 | 1:6.12.113-138.209.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3335](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3335.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | python3-perf6.18 amzn 2023 | 1:6.18.56-125.164.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3251](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3251.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | python3-perf6.18-debuginfo amzn 2023 | 1:6.18.56-125.164.amzn2023 | [ALAS2023-2026-3251](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3251.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |

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Data as of 2026-11-08T19:12:23Z UTC. Source: Patchblox Patch Radar (https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar). Patchblox finds out-of-date software on Windows, macOS and Linux and updates it through release rings: https://patchblox.com/demo

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