CVE-2026-97944: Linux Vulnerability

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: x86/cfi: Fix FineIBT hash offset in cfi_get_func_hash() The switch of the FineIBT preamble from "subl $hash, %r10d" to the shorter "subl $hash, %eax" moved the hash immediate from offset 7 to offset 5 of the preamble. fineibt_preamble_hash was updated to match, but the open-coded offset in cfi_get_func_hash() was missed and it still reads the hash at offset 7. cfi_get_func_hash() is used by the BPF JIT to give a struct_ops trampoline the CFI hash of the stub function it stands in for. With FineIBT the trampoline now gets the upper half of the real hash followed by the first two bytes of the next instruction, so the first indirect call from the kernel into a struct_ops program, tcp_init_congestion_control() calling ->init() of a BPF congestion control for example, fails the FineIBT check and the kernel dies with a CFI failure. Move the FineIBT preamble template and its offset defines above cfi_get_func_hash() and use fineibt_preamble_hash there, so every reader of the preamble shares one definition of its layout. The CFI_FINEIBT arm is only built with CONFIG_FINEIBT, the only configuration in which cfi_mode can take that value. cfi_get_func_arity() does not need the same treatment: the __bhi_args call whose displacement it reads still ends at the function address.

Affected Software

Source: CNA advisory (CVE.org). NVD analysis pending.

Vendor	Product	Versions
Linux	Linux	>= 85a2d4a890dce3cfc9c14aa91afc3dd7af8e3bf5, < cd9b4595d6283f9b8a35d7ae607508de45a351ce; >= 85a2d4a890dce3cfc9c14aa91afc3dd7af8e3bf5, < 67cf94c30a8b5ebc839f282f5c5a522b35903524; >= 85a2d4a890dce3cfc9c14aa91afc3dd7af8e3bf5, < 5a5d26f2cfe13467166219f6bf58099326912ddb
Linux	Linux	6.18

References

Timeline

Published: Sep 25, 2026
Last Modified: Sep 25, 2026
Status: Received

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-97944?

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: x86/cfi: Fix FineIBT hash offset in cfi_get_func_hash() The switch of the FineIBT preamble from "subl $hash, %r10d" to the shorter "subl $hash, %eax" moved the hash immediate from offset 7 to offset 5 of the preamble. fineibt_preamble_hash was updated to match, but the open-coded offset in cfi_get_func_hash() was missed and it still reads the hash at offset 7. cfi_get_func_hash() is used by the BPF JIT to give a struct_ops trampoline the CFI hash of the stub function it stands in for. With FineIBT the trampoline now gets the upper half of the real hash followed by the first two bytes of the next instruction, so the first indirect call from the kernel into a struct_ops program, tcp_init_congestion_control() calling ->init() of a BPF congestion control for example, fails the FineIBT check and the kernel dies with a CFI failure. Move the FineIBT preamble template and its offset defines above cfi_get_func_hash() and use fineibt_preamble_hash there, so every reader of the preamble shares one definition of its layout. The CFI_FINEIBT arm is only built with CONFIG_FINEIBT, the only configuration in which cfi_mode can take that value. cfi_get_func_arity() does not need the same treatment: the __bhi_args call whose displacement it reads still ends at the function address.

How severe is CVE-2026-97944?

Severity scoring for CVE-2026-97944 is pending analysis.

How do I fix CVE-2026-97944?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

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