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

perf/x86/intel: Prevent drain_pebs() reentry

The PEBS buffer is shared by all events on a CPU, so drain_pebs() must
not be reentered. If so, one instance may observe stale buffer state and
potentially access out-of-bound memory.

Most invocations happen in NMI context, which naturally prevents reentry.
However, drain_pebs() is also reachable from process context via
intel_pmu_drain_pebs_buffer().

In those paths, the PMU is often already disabled, but not guaranteed.
For example, __intel_pmu_pebs_disable() only disables the target counter,
so other active counters can still raise a PMI and interrupt an in-flight
drain_pebs(). Here is an example,

__perf_addr_filters_adjust()
perf_event_stop()
__perf_event_stop()
x86_pmu_stop() (event->pmu->stop)
intel_pmu_disable_event()
intel_pmu_pebs_disable()
__intel_pmu_pebs_disable()
intel_pmu_drain_large_pebs()
intel_pmu_drain_pebs_buffer()

Introduce __intel_pmu_quiesce() and __intel_pmu_resume() helpers and
use them in intel_pmu_drain_large_pebs() to disable the full PMU
around the intel_pmu_drain_pebs_buffer() call, preventing reentry.

Also add a warning in intel_pmu_drain_pebs_buffer() when the full PMU is
not disabled.
Advisories

No advisories yet.

Fixes

Solution

No solution given by the vendor.


Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

History

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 18:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-362
CWE-788

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 10:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: perf/x86/intel: Prevent drain_pebs() reentry The PEBS buffer is shared by all events on a CPU, so drain_pebs() must not be reentered. If so, one instance may observe stale buffer state and potentially access out-of-bound memory. Most invocations happen in NMI context, which naturally prevents reentry. However, drain_pebs() is also reachable from process context via intel_pmu_drain_pebs_buffer(). In those paths, the PMU is often already disabled, but not guaranteed. For example, __intel_pmu_pebs_disable() only disables the target counter, so other active counters can still raise a PMI and interrupt an in-flight drain_pebs(). Here is an example, __perf_addr_filters_adjust() perf_event_stop() __perf_event_stop() x86_pmu_stop() (event->pmu->stop) intel_pmu_disable_event() intel_pmu_pebs_disable() __intel_pmu_pebs_disable() intel_pmu_drain_large_pebs() intel_pmu_drain_pebs_buffer() Introduce __intel_pmu_quiesce() and __intel_pmu_resume() helpers and use them in intel_pmu_drain_large_pebs() to disable the full PMU around the intel_pmu_drain_pebs_buffer() call, preventing reentry. Also add a warning in intel_pmu_drain_pebs_buffer() when the full PMU is not disabled.
Title perf/x86/intel: Prevent drain_pebs() reentry
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

Projects

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-09-25T10:23:04.943Z

Reserved: 2026-09-25T10:18:58.206Z

Link: CVE-2026-97960

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-09-25T11:17:23.720

Modified: 2026-09-25T11:17:23.720

Link: CVE-2026-97960

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-09-25T18:00:20Z

Weaknesses