# CVE-2026-98395: Linux kernel powerpc irq_soft_mask corruption on interrupt replay

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-98395-in-the-linux-kernel-the-following-vulnerability-has-been-resolved  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-14. Updated: 2026-10-16  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-98395 · Severity: info · Published 2026-10-14

A bug in the Linux kernel's PowerPC interrupt handling corrupts the soft interrupt mask during replayed interrupts, causing warnings during boot on POWER10 systems. While this appears to be a low-severity defect that primarily manifests as boot-time warnings rather than a security vulnerability, it can lead to incorrect interrupt state management that could potentially be exploited.

Technologies: [Linux kernel](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/x-linux-kernel).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-98395 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-98395 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-98395?** Informational severity, published 14 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Linux kernel versions prior to fix (CVE-2026-98395).

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-98395?** Yes: fixed in Linux kernel versions with commit fixing arch_interrupt_async_exit_prepare() to use hard_irq_disable(). Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-98395 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-98395?** Check whether you run Linux kernel at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- Fixed in Linux kernel versions with commit fixing arch_interrupt_async_exit_prepare() to use hard_irq_disable()

## Technical details

The vulnerability exists in __replay_soft_interrupts() where the handler's exit path calls arch_interrupt_async_exit_prepare(), which unconditionally sets irq_soft_mask to IRQS_DISABLED (0x1), stripping the IRQS_PMI_DISABLED (0x2) bit. Since replayed interrupts bypass the normal arch_interrupt_enter_prepare() entry point, the mask remains corrupted at 0x1 instead of IRQS_ALL_DISABLED (0x3), triggering WARN_ON checks in next_interrupt(). The fix replaces local_irq_disable() with hard_irq_disable() to properly preserve the full soft mask state on PPC64 and correctly disable interrupts on PPC32.

## Affected products

- Linux Kernel versions prior to fix (CVE-2026-98395)

## Timeline

- 2026-10-14: disclosed

## Related threats

- [Linux kernel mmap bounds check vulnerability in mman.c](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-58813-in-mmap-of-mman-c-there-is-a-possible-way-to-trigger-an-out-of)
- [Linux kernel TIPC double fetch information disclosure](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-0193-in-handle-rx-msg-of-tipc-virtio-dev-there-is-a-possible-double)
- [Linux kernel xen-netback use-after-free in mcast_addr_list_free](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-100081-in-the-linux-kernel-the-following-vulnerability-has-been)
- [Linux kernel io_uring denial of service via preemption window](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-99252-in-the-linux-kernel-the-following-vulnerability-has-been-resolved)
- [Linux kernel printk kthread boot hang in SMP systems](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-99250-in-the-linux-kernel-the-following-vulnerability-has-been-resolved)