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Linux kernel <6.6.158.1-1 can crash BPF programs

published 1 month ago
Summary

Versions of the Linux kernel older than 6.6.158.1-1 contain a coding mistake that can cause the system to crash when a special BPF program tries to display certain variable information. This may lead to unexpected reboots or downtime. Updating the kernel to the latest version resolves the issue.

What to do
  • Update kernel to version 6.6.158.1-1.
Affected software
Ecosystem VendorProductAffected versions
Azure Linux:3 – kernel < 6.6.158.1-1
Fix: upgrade to 6.6.158.1-1
Azure Linux:3 azure kernel <= 6.6.157.1-1
Original advisory text
CVE-2026-98063 affecting package kernel for versions less than 6.6.158.1-1
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

bpf: Fix NULL-ptr-deref in btf_var_show()

btf_var_show() calls btf_type_id_resolve() unconditionally, which
dereferences btf->resolved_ids. That is NULL for a base BTF - e.g. the
vmlinux BTF that bpf_snprintf_btf() renders against - since base BTF is
not resolved during parsing. btf_modifier_show() guards this with
'if (btf->resolved_ids)', but btf_var_show() does not.

A BPF program that passes the type_id of a BTF_KIND_VAR from the vmlinux
BTF to bpf_snprintf_btf() thus NULL-derefs:

KASAN: probably user-memory-access in range [0x46638-0x4663f]
RIP: 0010:btf_var_show (kernel/bpf/btf.c:2929)
Call Trace:
<TASK>
btf_type_show (kernel/bpf/btf.c:8259)
btf_type_snprintf_show (kernel/bpf/btf.c:8329)
bpf_snprintf_btf (kernel/trace/bpf_trace.c:1047)
bpf_prog_test_run_raw_tp (net/bpf/test_run.c:829)
__sys_bpf (kernel/bpf/syscall.c:4804)
do_syscall_64 (arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:84)
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe (arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:121)
</TASK>

Resolve the var's type directly with btf_type_skip_modifiers() when
resolved_ids is NULL, mirroring btf_modifier_show().
Timeline
Published25 Sep 2026
Updated2 Nov 2026
First seen26 Sep 2026
Sources
AZL-104492 · OSV
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