In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: exec: do_close_on_exec() before taking exec_update_lock do_close_on_exec() currently happens while holding the exec_update_lock, which is used in a lot of places that access process state to synchronize access checks. I recently added another such use of exec_update_lock, causing a regression. do_close_on_exec() can block waiting for a reply from a filesystem. That means a hung filesystem can block codepaths that use exec_update_lock; and it also means that a FUSE filesystem which attempts to inspect the calling process can deadlock. To avoid such problems, move do_close_on_exec() before the exec_update_lock is taken, but after the FD table has been copied if necessary. I have looked through all the calls between the old and new position of the do_close_on_exec() call; there seems to be no file descriptor table access in between.
History

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 01:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-613

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 00:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-833
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Low


Thu, 15 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-613

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 13:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: exec: do_close_on_exec() before taking exec_update_lock do_close_on_exec() currently happens while holding the exec_update_lock, which is used in a lot of places that access process state to synchronize access checks. I recently added another such use of exec_update_lock, causing a regression. do_close_on_exec() can block waiting for a reply from a filesystem. That means a hung filesystem can block codepaths that use exec_update_lock; and it also means that a FUSE filesystem which attempts to inspect the calling process can deadlock. To avoid such problems, move do_close_on_exec() before the exec_update_lock is taken, but after the FD table has been copied if necessary. I have looked through all the calls between the old and new position of the do_close_on_exec() call; there seems to be no file descriptor table access in between.
Title exec: do_close_on_exec() before taking exec_update_lock
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published: 2026-10-14T13:25:52.117Z

Updated: 2026-10-19T09:18:39.224Z

Reserved: 2026-09-25T10:25:14.346Z

Link: CVE-2026-98388

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-10-14T14:17:49.617

Modified: 2026-10-19T10:18:42.120

Link: CVE-2026-98388

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Low

Publid Date: 2026-10-14T00:00:00Z

Links: CVE-2026-98388 - Bugzilla