---
title: "CVE-2026-89581: Linux Kernel - Privilege Escalation"
description: "Linux kernel contains a privilege escalation caused by incorrect per-CPU address resolution in BPF x86 extended registers, letting attackers cause kernel panic and memory corruption, exploit requires running BPF programs with GCC-compiled per-CPU addresses."
url: https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/CVE-2026-89581/
---

# CVE-2026-89581 Linux Kernel - Privilege Escalation

Linux kernel contains a privilege escalation caused by incorrect per-CPU address resolution in BPF x86 extended registers, letting attackers cause kernel panic and memory corruption, exploit requires running BPF programs with GCC-compiled per-CPU addresses.

CVSS base score 7.8 /10

High

CISA KEV

Not listed

Public exploit

None known

Authentication

Required

EPSS

0.13% chance of exploitation in 30 days

[View the NVD record ↗](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-89581)

## Details

Type

Privilege Escalation

Impact

Denial Of Service, Privilege Escalation

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Published

11 September 2026

Updated

15 October 2026

## Vendor fix

Update to the latest Linux kernel version containing the fix for per-CPU address resolution in BPF x86 extended registers.

Patching closes this CVE. It does not tell you which of your systems run the affected version, or what else is exposed alongside them.

## References

- [https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-89581](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-89581)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5bbbce02e500d47d8e259a45be5a7be9741d0533](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5bbbce02e500d47d8e259a45be5a7be9741d0533)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/638bc3aada8ecdece184d5c15b100d489c9cccd7](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/638bc3aada8ecdece184d5c15b100d489c9cccd7)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6886642414f59f928728802dc2c972a9859e6310](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6886642414f59f928728802dc2c972a9859e6310)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6a19b18d458881bf3269a357cc6dc6db5eef4369](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6a19b18d458881bf3269a357cc6dc6db5eef4369)

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## What this record can't tell you

- Whether you run the affected software, and where
- Whether an attacker can actually reach and exploit it
- The misconfigurations that never get a CVE number
- What it would cost the business, ranked into what to fix first

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