CVE-2026-98065
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf: Reject key-less BTF for hash maps map_check_btf() allows a key-less BTF (btf_key_type_id == 0) only for maps that have a ->map_check_btf callback, and leaves the actual decision to that callback. Hash maps used to have no ->map_check_btf, so a key-less BTF was rejected outright. That changed when htab and rhtab gained a ->map_check_btf to register a dtor - htab in commit 1df97a7453ee ("bpf: Register dtor for freeing special fields") and rhtab in commit 6905f8601298 ("bpf: Allow special fields in resizable hashtab"). Neither looks at the key, so a key-less hash map now passes map_check_btf() and gets created. Reading it back through bpffs feeds the key type_id 0 into btf_type_seq_show(); btf_type_by_id() returns the void type, kind_ops[BTF_KIND_UNKN] is NULL, and btf_type_show() dereferences it: RIP: 0010:btf_type_show+0x223/0x2e0 kernel/bpf/btf.c:8232 RSP: 0018:ffffc9000399f868 EFLAGS: 00010206 RAX: dffffc0000000000 RBX: 0000000000000000 RCX: 0000000000000000 RDX: 0000000000000005 RSI: 0000000000000000 RDI: 0000000000000028 RBP: 0000000000000000 R08: 0000000000000001 R09: 0000000000000000 R10: ffffc9000399f970 R11: 0000000000000001 R12: ffffffff9b96b140 R13: ffffc9000399f8e0 R14: ffff88803d393c00 R15: 0000000000000003 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 0000200000000000 CR3: 000000003d213000 CR4: 0000000000352ef0 DR0: 0000000039ae8f55 DR1: 0000000000000000 DR2: 0000000000000000 DR3: 0000000000000000 DR6: 00000000ffff0ff0 DR7: 0000000000000400 Call Trace: <TASK> btf_type_seq_show_flags+0xca/0x120 kernel/bpf/btf.c:8250 htab_map_seq_show_elem+0x12e/0x350 kernel/bpf/hashtab.c:1669 map_seq_show+0x13d/0x1e0 kernel/bpf/inode.c:293 traverse.part.0.constprop.0+0x107/0x650 fs/seq_file.c:112 traverse fs/seq_file.c:99 [inline] seq_read_iter+0x93f/0x1270 fs/seq_file.c:196 seq_read+0x344/0x4d0 fs/seq_file.c:163 vfs_read+0x1e4/0xb40 fs/read_write.c:572 ksys_pread64 fs/read_write.c:764 [inline] __do_sys_pread64 fs/read_write.c:772 [inline] __se_sys_pread64 fs/read_write.c:769 [inline] __x64_sys_pread64+0x1eb/0x250 fs/read_write.c:769 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:61 [inline] do_syscall_64+0x123/0x790 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:84 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f Reject a key-less BTF in htab_map_check_btf() and rhtab_map_check_btf(), restoring the previous behavior.
Executive briefing
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Evidence confidence: Not assessed Evidence-derived, not an exploitability verdict
Severity & attack characteristics
CVSS vector:Not supplied
No CVSS vector is currently available in the source record.
Technical explanation & impact
Technical root-cause details are not available in the current source record.
Assess the impact using the published CVSS metrics and the affected vendor component.
Affected products and versions
NVD has not supplied machine-readable vulnerable CPE product/version entries for this CVE. This is an information gap, not proof that no products are affected. Check the vendor advisory references below.
Remediation & validation
- Identify exposure by comparing the affected product and version ranges with your asset inventory, SBOM and externally exposed services.
- Review the linked vendor security advisory or patch notes. Upgrade to a vendor-confirmed fixed release; do not infer a fixed version from the CVE description.
- Until patched, consider restricting network access or disabling the affected feature where operationally safe. These are temporary controls, not a substitute for a vendor fix.
- Validate the remediation with a version check and vulnerability rescan, then retain change evidence.
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Vendor advisories, patches & exploit references
No external references are currently supplied in the CVE record.