{"api_version":"1","generated_at":"2026-10-22T01:49:03+00:00","cve":"CVE-2026-98838","urls":{"html":"https://cve.report/CVE-2026-98838","api":"https://cve.report/api/cve/CVE-2026-98838.json","docs":"https://cve.report/api","cve_org":"https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98838","nvd":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98838"},"summary":{"title":"vt: skip screen update for DEC alignment test on backgroup consoles","description":"In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nvt: skip screen update for DEC alignment test on backgroup consoles\n\n[BUG]\nRecently, we encountered a KASAN warning as follows:\n\nBUG: KASAN: slab-out-of-bounds in fb_pad_aligned_buffer+0x11f/0x140\nRead of size 1 at addr ff1100015fd9f6a4 by task tty_fbcon_oob/1239\nCPU: 7 UID: 0 PID: 1239 Comm: tty_fbcon_oob Not tainted 7.3.0-rc1 #100 PREEMPT(full)\nHardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 1.17.0-4.fc41 04/01/2014\nCall Trace:\n <TASK>\n ...\n kasan_report+0xf0/0x120\n fb_pad_aligned_buffer+0x11f/0x140\n ccw_putcs+0x86c/0xa80\n fbcon_putcs+0x338/0x410\n do_update_region+0x21d/0x450\n do_con_write+0x1e0e/0x4880\n con_write+0x13/0x80\n n_tty_write+0x374/0x1010\n file_tty_write.isra.0+0x404/0x7a0\n ...\n\nreproduce:\n1) open /dev/tty0, set a KDFONTOP ioctl with op.op = KD_FONT_OP_SET,\nop.width = 8 and op.height = 16 (visible VC1)\n2) open /dev/tty1, set a KDFONTOP ioctl with op.op = KD_FONT_OP_SET,\nop.width = 28 and op.height = 24 (invisible VC2)\n3) echo 3 > /sys/devices/virtual/graphics/fbcon/rotate_all\n4) write EShash8(esc hash8) to tty1\n\n[CAUSE]\nAll VCs render to the framebuffer. setfont only modifies the target VC's\nfont without resizing the framebuffer backing buffer (par->rotated.buf);\nthe buffer is only resized for the visible VC\n(fbcon_do_set_font -> ... -> vc_do_resize -> update_screen). This relies on\nthe con_should_update() check performed before every update_region().\n\nHowever, the ESC # 8 path (do_con_trol -> do_update_region) omits the\ncon_should_update() check. After changing the font size of an invisible VC,\ndo_update_region() fills using the new font size against a buffer that was\nnever resized, causing an out-of-bounds access.\n\n[FIX]\nOnly push the update when the console is visible and not blanked, add\nthe con_should_update() check in the do_con_trol() like every other call\nsite of do_update_region() (update_region(), invert_screen(), ...).","state":"PUBLISHED","assigner":"Linux","published_at":"2026-10-18 16:17:38","updated_at":"2026-10-21 13:21:49"},"problem_types":[],"metrics":[],"references":[{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ad06f7312d3f615dd466483ce81a9b9619166686","name":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ad06f7312d3f615dd466483ce81a9b9619166686","refsource":"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67","tags":[],"title":"","mime":"","httpstatus":"","archivestatus":"0"},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/985c000b046ca4ee11ee34ef85db500c569ef6e8","name":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/985c000b046ca4ee11ee34ef85db500c569ef6e8","refsource":"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67","tags":[],"title":"","mime":"","httpstatus":"","archivestatus":"0"},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0928ed9bd7946baee911efa401088697836e3b1e","name":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0928ed9bd7946baee911efa401088697836e3b1e","refsource":"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67","tags":[],"title":"","mime":"","httpstatus":"","archivestatus":"0"},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0ee53081425a1a31ce15089012cd96b8353eb44e","name":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0ee53081425a1a31ce15089012cd96b8353eb44e","refsource":"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67","tags":[],"title":"","mime":"","httpstatus":"","archivestatus":"0"},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2fc4e71aefab57c80ccc9775aad2af503fc90810","name":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2fc4e71aefab57c80ccc9775aad2af503fc90810","refsource":"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67","tags":[],"title":"","mime":"","httpstatus":"","archivestatus":"0"},{"url":"https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98838","name":"CVE Program record","refsource":"CVE.ORG","tags":["canonical"]},{"url":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98838","name":"NVD vulnerability detail","refsource":"NVD","tags":["canonical","analysis"]}],"affected":[{"source":"CNA","vendor":"Linux","product":"Linux","version":"affected 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 2fc4e71aefab57c80ccc9775aad2af503fc90810 git","platforms":[]},{"source":"CNA","vendor":"Linux","product":"Linux","version":"affected 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 985c000b046ca4ee11ee34ef85db500c569ef6e8 git","platforms":[]},{"source":"CNA","vendor":"Linux","product":"Linux","version":"affected 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 ad06f7312d3f615dd466483ce81a9b9619166686 git","platforms":[]},{"source":"CNA","vendor":"Linux","product":"Linux","version":"affected 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 0ee53081425a1a31ce15089012cd96b8353eb44e git","platforms":[]},{"source":"CNA","vendor":"Linux","product":"Linux","version":"affected 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 0928ed9bd7946baee911efa401088697836e3b1e git","platforms":[]},{"source":"CNA","vendor":"Linux","product":"Linux","version":"affected 2.6.12","platforms":[]},{"source":"CNA","vendor":"Linux","product":"Linux","version":"unaffected 2.6.12 semver","platforms":[]},{"source":"CNA","vendor":"Linux","product":"Linux","version":"unaffected 6.6.160 6.6.* semver","platforms":[]},{"source":"CNA","vendor":"Linux","product":"Linux","version":"unaffected 6.12.113 6.12.* semver","platforms":[]},{"source":"CNA","vendor":"Linux","product":"Linux","version":"unaffected 6.18.56 6.18.* semver","platforms":[]},{"source":"CNA","vendor":"Linux","product":"Linux","version":"unaffected 7.2.10 7.2.* semver","platforms":[]},{"source":"CNA","vendor":"Linux","product":"Linux","version":"unaffected 7.3 * original_commit_for_fix","platforms":[]}],"timeline":[],"solutions":[],"workarounds":[],"exploits":[],"credits":[],"nvd_cpes":[],"vendor_comments":[],"enrichments":{"kev":null,"epss":{"cve_year":"2026","cve_id":"98838","cve":"CVE-2026-98838","epss":"0.001680000","percentile":"0.057420000","score_date":"2026-10-21","updated_at":"2026-10-22 00:15:10"},"legacy_qids":[]},"source_records":{"cve_program":{"containers":{"cna":{"affected":[{"defaultStatus":"unaffected","product":"Linux","programFiles":["drivers/tty/vt/vt.c"],"repo":"https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git","vendor":"Linux","versions":[{"lessThan":"2fc4e71aefab57c80ccc9775aad2af503fc90810","status":"affected","version":"1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2","versionType":"git"},{"lessThan":"985c000b046ca4ee11ee34ef85db500c569ef6e8","status":"affected","version":"1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2","versionType":"git"},{"lessThan":"ad06f7312d3f615dd466483ce81a9b9619166686","status":"affected","version":"1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2","versionType":"git"},{"lessThan":"0ee53081425a1a31ce15089012cd96b8353eb44e","status":"affected","version":"1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2","versionType":"git"},{"lessThan":"0928ed9bd7946baee911efa401088697836e3b1e","status":"affected","version":"1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2","versionType":"git"}]},{"defaultStatus":"affected","product":"Linux","programFiles":["drivers/tty/vt/vt.c"],"repo":"https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git","vendor":"Linux","versions":[{"status":"affected","version":"2.6.12"},{"lessThan":"2.6.12","status":"unaffected","version":"0","versionType":"semver"},{"lessThanOrEqual":"6.6.*","status":"unaffected","version":"6.6.160","versionType":"semver"},{"lessThanOrEqual":"6.12.*","status":"unaffected","version":"6.12.113","versionType":"semver"},{"lessThanOrEqual":"6.18.*","status":"unaffected","version":"6.18.56","versionType":"semver"},{"lessThanOrEqual":"7.2.*","status":"unaffected","version":"7.2.10","versionType":"semver"},{"lessThanOrEqual":"*","status":"unaffected","version":"7.3","versionType":"original_commit_for_fix"}]}],"cpeApplicability":[{"nodes":[{"cpeMatch":[{"criteria":"cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionEndExcluding":"6.6.160","versionStartIncluding":"2.6.12","vulnerable":true},{"criteria":"cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionEndExcluding":"6.12.113","versionStartIncluding":"2.6.12","vulnerable":true},{"criteria":"cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionEndExcluding":"6.18.56","versionStartIncluding":"2.6.12","vulnerable":true},{"criteria":"cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionEndExcluding":"7.2.10","versionStartIncluding":"2.6.12","vulnerable":true},{"criteria":"cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionEndExcluding":"7.3","versionStartIncluding":"2.6.12","vulnerable":true}],"negate":false,"operator":"OR"}]}],"descriptions":[{"lang":"en","value":"In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nvt: skip screen update for DEC alignment test on backgroup consoles\n\n[BUG]\nRecently, we encountered a KASAN warning as follows:\n\nBUG: KASAN: slab-out-of-bounds in fb_pad_aligned_buffer+0x11f/0x140\nRead of size 1 at addr ff1100015fd9f6a4 by task tty_fbcon_oob/1239\nCPU: 7 UID: 0 PID: 1239 Comm: tty_fbcon_oob Not tainted 7.3.0-rc1 #100 PREEMPT(full)\nHardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 1.17.0-4.fc41 04/01/2014\nCall Trace:\n <TASK>\n ...\n kasan_report+0xf0/0x120\n fb_pad_aligned_buffer+0x11f/0x140\n ccw_putcs+0x86c/0xa80\n fbcon_putcs+0x338/0x410\n do_update_region+0x21d/0x450\n do_con_write+0x1e0e/0x4880\n con_write+0x13/0x80\n n_tty_write+0x374/0x1010\n file_tty_write.isra.0+0x404/0x7a0\n ...\n\nreproduce:\n1) open /dev/tty0, set a KDFONTOP ioctl with op.op = KD_FONT_OP_SET,\nop.width = 8 and op.height = 16 (visible VC1)\n2) open /dev/tty1, set a KDFONTOP ioctl with op.op = KD_FONT_OP_SET,\nop.width = 28 and op.height = 24 (invisible VC2)\n3) echo 3 > /sys/devices/virtual/graphics/fbcon/rotate_all\n4) write EShash8(esc hash8) to tty1\n\n[CAUSE]\nAll VCs render to the framebuffer. setfont only modifies the target VC's\nfont without resizing the framebuffer backing buffer (par->rotated.buf);\nthe buffer is only resized for the visible VC\n(fbcon_do_set_font -> ... -> vc_do_resize -> update_screen). This relies on\nthe con_should_update() check performed before every update_region().\n\nHowever, the ESC # 8 path (do_con_trol -> do_update_region) omits the\ncon_should_update() check. After changing the font size of an invisible VC,\ndo_update_region() fills using the new font size against a buffer that was\nnever resized, causing an out-of-bounds access.\n\n[FIX]\nOnly push the update when the console is visible and not blanked, add\nthe con_should_update() check in the do_con_trol() like every other call\nsite of do_update_region() (update_region(), invert_screen(), ...)."}],"providerMetadata":{"dateUpdated":"2026-10-21T12:57:24.278Z","orgId":"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67","shortName":"Linux"},"references":[{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2fc4e71aefab57c80ccc9775aad2af503fc90810"},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/985c000b046ca4ee11ee34ef85db500c569ef6e8"},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ad06f7312d3f615dd466483ce81a9b9619166686"},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0ee53081425a1a31ce15089012cd96b8353eb44e"},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0928ed9bd7946baee911efa401088697836e3b1e"}],"title":"vt: skip screen update for DEC alignment test on backgroup consoles","x_generator":{"engine":"bippy-1.2.0"}}},"cveMetadata":{"assignerOrgId":"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67","assignerShortName":"Linux","cveId":"CVE-2026-98838","datePublished":"2026-10-18T15:50:07.004Z","dateReserved":"2026-09-25T10:25:14.373Z","dateUpdated":"2026-10-21T12:57:24.278Z","state":"PUBLISHED"},"dataType":"CVE_RECORD","dataVersion":"5.2"},"nvd":{"publishedDate":"2026-10-18 16:17:38","lastModifiedDate":"2026-10-21 13:21:49","problem_types":[],"metrics":[],"configurations":[]},"legacy_mitre":{"record":{"CveYear":"2026","CveId":"98838","Ordinal":"1","Title":"vt: skip screen update for DEC alignment test on backgroup conso","CVE":"CVE-2026-98838","Year":"2026"},"notes":[{"CveYear":"2026","CveId":"98838","Ordinal":"1","NoteData":"In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nvt: skip screen update for DEC alignment test on backgroup consoles\n\n[BUG]\nRecently, we encountered a KASAN warning as follows:\n\nBUG: KASAN: slab-out-of-bounds in fb_pad_aligned_buffer+0x11f/0x140\nRead of size 1 at addr ff1100015fd9f6a4 by task tty_fbcon_oob/1239\nCPU: 7 UID: 0 PID: 1239 Comm: tty_fbcon_oob Not tainted 7.3.0-rc1 #100 PREEMPT(full)\nHardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 1.17.0-4.fc41 04/01/2014\nCall Trace:\n <TASK>\n ...\n kasan_report+0xf0/0x120\n fb_pad_aligned_buffer+0x11f/0x140\n ccw_putcs+0x86c/0xa80\n fbcon_putcs+0x338/0x410\n do_update_region+0x21d/0x450\n do_con_write+0x1e0e/0x4880\n con_write+0x13/0x80\n n_tty_write+0x374/0x1010\n file_tty_write.isra.0+0x404/0x7a0\n ...\n\nreproduce:\n1) open /dev/tty0, set a KDFONTOP ioctl with op.op = KD_FONT_OP_SET,\nop.width = 8 and op.height = 16 (visible VC1)\n2) open /dev/tty1, set a KDFONTOP ioctl with op.op = KD_FONT_OP_SET,\nop.width = 28 and op.height = 24 (invisible VC2)\n3) echo 3 > /sys/devices/virtual/graphics/fbcon/rotate_all\n4) write EShash8(esc hash8) to tty1\n\n[CAUSE]\nAll VCs render to the framebuffer. setfont only modifies the target VC's\nfont without resizing the framebuffer backing buffer (par->rotated.buf);\nthe buffer is only resized for the visible VC\n(fbcon_do_set_font -> ... -> vc_do_resize -> update_screen). This relies on\nthe con_should_update() check performed before every update_region().\n\nHowever, the ESC # 8 path (do_con_trol -> do_update_region) omits the\ncon_should_update() check. After changing the font size of an invisible VC,\ndo_update_region() fills using the new font size against a buffer that was\nnever resized, causing an out-of-bounds access.\n\n[FIX]\nOnly push the update when the console is visible and not blanked, add\nthe con_should_update() check in the do_con_trol() like every other call\nsite of do_update_region() (update_region(), invert_screen(), ...).","Type":"Description","Title":"vt: skip screen update for DEC alignment test on backgroup conso"}]}}}