---
id: "CVE-2026-98790"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-98790"]
title: "Linux kernel: perf race during exec can trigger a kernel warning"
severity: "unknown"
cvss: null
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "runtime"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["linux-kernel", "linux-servers", "runtime", "self-hosted"]
not_affected_if: ["unknown"]
published_at: "2026-10-18T16:17:32+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:16+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-25T05:15:14+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98790", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:16+00:00"}]
---

# Linux kernel: perf race during exec can trigger a kernel warning

A race between perf event teardown and pending perf work during exec can make the kernel hit a WARN_ON_ONCE in perf_sigtrap. The sources describe a kernel warning and do not state a code execution or privilege escalation path.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## How to check

- unknown

## Fix

- unknown

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T21:57:16+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98790

## From the sources

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

perf: Fix race between perf_event_exit_task() and perf_pending_task()

A race condition exists between perf_event_exit_task() and
perf_pending_task() during begin_new_exec().

During begin_new_exec(), perf_event_exit_task() may be called, and the
PF_EXITING flag is not set on task. So perf_sigtrap() continues to execute
and triggers WARN_ON_ONCE(event->ctx->task != current).

Since both task exit and exec paths can call perf_event_exit_task() which
sets ctx->task to TASK_TOMBSTONE, fix this by explicitly checking if
event->ctx->task equals TASK_TOMBSTONE and dropping the redundant
PF_EXITING check.

---

_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_