configfs: fix a race in configfs_{,un}register_subsystem()
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 4 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: configfs: fix a race in configfs_{,un}register_subsystem() When configfs_register_subsystem() or configfs_unregister_subsystem() is executing link_group() or unlink_group(), it is possible that two processes add or delete list concurrently. Some unfortunate interleavings of them can cause kernel panic. One of cases is: A --> B --> C --> D A <-- B <-- C <-- D delete list_head *B | delete list_head *C --------------------------------|----------------------------------- configfs_unregister_subsystem | configfs_unregister_subsystem unlink_group | unlink_group unlink_obj | unlink_obj list_del_init | list_del_init __list_del_entry | __list_del_entry __list_del | __list_del // next == C | next->prev = prev | | next->prev = prev prev->next = next | | // prev == B | prev->next = next Fix this by adding mutex when calling link_group() or unlink_group(), but parent configfs_subsystem is NULL when config_item is root. So I create a mutex configfs_subsystem_mutex.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 2.6.16 and later | 4.9.304, 4.14.269, 4.19.232, 5.4.182, 5.10.103, 5.15.26, 5.16.12, 5.17 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 2.6.16 and later Fixed in 4.9.304, 4.14.269, 4.19.232, 5.4.182, 5.10.103, 5.15.26, 5.16.12, 5.17 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.6.16 to before 4.9.304; 4.10 to before 4.14.269; 4.15 to before 4.19.232; 4.20 to before 5.4.182; 5.5 to before 5.10.103; 5.11 to before 5.15.26; 5.16 to before 5.16.12 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.6.16 to before 4.9.304; 4.10 to before 4.14.269; 4.15 to before 4.19.232; 4.20 to before 5.4.182; 5.5 to before 5.10.103; 5.11 to before 5.15.26; 5.16 to before 5.16.12 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 4.9.304, 4.14.269, 4.19.232, 5.4.182, 5.10.103, 5.15.26, 5.16.12, 5.17
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2022-48931
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-38qw-v9q4-hm9j
References
Patch 8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/40805099af11f68c5ca7dbcfacf455da8f99f622
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d1654de19d42f513b6cfe955cc77e7f427e05a77
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a37024f7757c25550accdebf49e497ad6ae239fe
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b7e2b91fcb5c78c414e33dc8d50642e307ca0c5a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a7ab53d3c27dfe83bb594456b9f38a37796ec39b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e7a66dd2687758718eddd79b542a95cf3aa488cc
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3aadfd46858b1f64d4d6a0654b863e21aabff975
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/84ec758fb2daa236026506868c8796b0500c047d
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- TI-2026-38352 netfilter: bridge: make ebt_snat ARP rewrite writable KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2013-05264 The (1) get_user and (2) put_user API functions in the Linux kernel before 3.5.5 on the… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2022-00125 Integer overflow in kernel KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2013-01864 The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2021-05514 Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.3
Sources
- CVE-2022-48931 · CVE Program
- CVE-2022-48931 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-38qw-v9q4-hm9j · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2022-48931 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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