mm: fix zswap writeback race condition
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 33 fixed, 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm: fix zswap writeback race condition The zswap writeback mechanism can cause a race condition resulting in memory corruption, where a swapped out page gets swapped in with data that was written to a different page. The race unfolds like this: 1. a page with data A and swap offset X is stored in zswap 2. page A is removed off the LRU by zpool driver for writeback in zswap-shrink work, data for A is mapped by zpool driver 3. user space program faults and invalidates page entry A, offset X is considered free 4. kswapd stores page B at offset X in zswap (zswap could also be full, if so, page B would then be IOed to X, then skip step 5.) 5. entry A is replaced by B in tree->rbroot, this doesn't affect the local reference held by zswap-shrink work 6. zswap-shrink work writes back A at X, and frees zswap entry A 7. swapin of slot X brings A in memory instead of B The fix: Once the swap page cache has been allocated (case ZSWAP_SWAPCACHE_NEW), zswap-shrink work just checks that the local zswap_entry reference is still the same as the one in the tree. If it's not the same it means that it's either been invalidated or replaced, in both cases the writeback is aborted because the local entry contains stale data. Reproducer: I originally found this by running `stress` overnight to validate my work on the zswap writeback mechanism, it manifested after hours on my test machine. The key to make it happen is having zswap writebacks, so whatever setup pumps /sys/kernel/debug/zswap/written_back_pages should do the trick. In order to reproduce this faster on a vm, I setup a system with ~100M of available memory and a 500M swap file, then running `stress --vm 1 --vm-bytes 300000000 --vm-stride 4000` makes it happen in matter of tens of minutes. One can speed things up even more by swinging /sys/module/zswap/parameters/max_pool_percent up and down between, say, 20 and 1; this makes it reproduce in tens of seconds. It's crucial to set `--vm-stride` to something other than 4096 otherwise `stress` won't realize that memory has been corrupted because all pages would have the same data.
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 | 3.11 and later | 6.1.30, 6.3.4, 6.4 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 3.11 and later Fixed in 6.1.30, 6.3.4, 6.4 Patch available CNA
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.1.30, 6.3.4, 6.4
Red Hat 14 advisories
- RHSA-2025:23947 Released 2025-12-22 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7 ELS) bpftool-3.10.0-1160.144.1.el7, kernel-3.10.0-1160.144.1.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-1160.144.1.el7 +11
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7 ELS) kernel-debug-devel-3.10.0-1160.144.1.el7, kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-1160.144.1.el7
- RHSA-2025:23960 Released 2025-12-22 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel-rt security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time (v. 7 ELS) kernel-rt-3.10.0-1160.144.1.rt56.1296.el7, kernel-rt-debug-3.10.0-1160.144.1.rt56.1296.el7, kernel-rt-debug-devel-3.10.0-1160.144.1.rt56.1296.el7 +4
- RHSA-2025:23445 Released 2025-12-17 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v. 8.2) bpftool-4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_2, kernel-4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_2, kernel-abi-whitelists-4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_2 +14
Show 11 more Red Hat advisories
- RHSA-2025:22752 Released 2025-12-04 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.4) bpftool-4.18.0-305.179.1.el8_4, kernel-4.18.0-305.179.1.el8_4, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-305.179.1.el8_4 +14
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS EXTENSION (v.8.4) bpftool-4.18.0-305.179.1.el8_4, kernel-4.18.0-305.179.1.el8_4, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-305.179.1.el8_4 +14
- RHSA-2025:21136 Released 2025-11-12 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel-rt security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV E4S (v.9.0) kernel-rt-5.14.0-70.153.1.rt21.225.el9_0, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-70.153.1.rt21.225.el9_0, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-70.153.1.rt21.225.el9_0 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time E4S (v.9.0) kernel-rt-5.14.0-70.153.1.rt21.225.el9_0, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-70.153.1.rt21.225.el9_0, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-70.153.1.rt21.225.el9_0 +7
- RHSA-2025:21128 Released 2025-11-12 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel-rt security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time E4S (v.9.2) kernel-rt-5.14.0-284.146.1.rt14.431.el9_2, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-284.146.1.rt14.431.el9_2, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-284.146.1.rt14.431.el9_2 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV E4S (v.9.2) kernel-rt-5.14.0-284.146.1.rt14.431.el9_2, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-284.146.1.rt14.431.el9_2, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-284.146.1.rt14.431.el9_2 +11
- RHSA-2025:21091 Released 2025-11-12 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.0) kernel-debug-devel-5.14.0-70.153.1.el9_0, kernel-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-70.153.1.el9_0, kernel-devel-5.14.0-70.153.1.el9_0 +5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.0) bpftool-5.14.0-70.153.1.el9_0, kernel-5.14.0-70.153.1.el9_0, kernel-abi-stablelists-5.14.0-70.153.1.el9_0 +14
- RHSA-2025:21084 Released 2025-11-12 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.6) bpftool-4.18.0-372.168.1.el8_6, kernel-4.18.0-372.168.1.el8_6, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-372.168.1.el8_6 +14
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.8.6) bpftool-4.18.0-372.168.1.el8_6, kernel-4.18.0-372.168.1.el8_6, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-372.168.1.el8_6 +19
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS TUS (v.8.6) bpftool-4.18.0-372.168.1.el8_6, kernel-4.18.0-372.168.1.el8_6, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-372.168.1.el8_6 +14
- RHSA-2025:21083 Released 2025-11-12 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.8.8) bpftool-4.18.0-477.118.1.el8_8, kernel-4.18.0-477.118.1.el8_8, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-477.118.1.el8_8 +14
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS TUS (v.8.8) bpftool-4.18.0-477.118.1.el8_8, kernel-4.18.0-477.118.1.el8_8, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-477.118.1.el8_8 +14
- RHSA-2025:21051 Released 2025-11-12 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.2) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-284.146.1.el9_2, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-284.146.1.el9_2, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-284.146.1.el9_2 +10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.2) bpftool-7.0.0-284.146.1.el9_2, kernel-5.14.0-284.146.1.el9_2, kernel-64k-5.14.0-284.146.1.el9_2 +29
- RHSA-2025:19931 Released 2025-11-10 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) bpftool-4.18.0-553.83.1.el8_10, kernel-4.18.0-553.83.1.el8_10, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-553.83.1.el8_10 +19
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-553.83.1.el8_10
- RHSA-2025:19932 Released 2025-11-10 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel-rt security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-553.83.1.rt7.424.el8_10, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-553.83.1.rt7.424.el8_10, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-553.83.1.rt7.424.el8_10 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-553.83.1.rt7.424.el8_10, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-553.83.1.rt7.424.el8_10, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-553.83.1.rt7.424.el8_10 +7
- RHSA-2025:19886 Released 2025-11-06 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.4) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-427.97.1.el9_4, libperf-5.14.0-427.97.1.el9_4
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.4) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-427.97.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-427.97.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-427.97.1.el9_4 +11
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.4) bpftool-7.3.0-427.97.1.el9_4, kernel-5.14.0-427.97.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-5.14.0-427.97.1.el9_4 +29
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v.9.4) kernel-rt-5.14.0-427.97.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-427.97.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-427.97.1.el9_4 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v.9.4) kernel-rt-5.14.0-427.97.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-427.97.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-427.97.1.el9_4 +11
- RHSA-2024:9315 Released 2024-11-12 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) kernel-cross-headers-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, libperf-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) bpftool-7.4.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-64k-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5 +30
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5 +11
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:9315 |
| Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:19886 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:9315 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.0) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:21091 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:21051 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:19886 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:19931 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:9315 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v. 8.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:23445 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:22752 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:21084 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.8.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:21084 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.8.8) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:21083 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.0) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:21091 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:21051 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:19886 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS EXTENSION (v.8.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:22752 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS TUS (v.8.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:21084 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS TUS (v.8.8) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:21083 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:19931 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:19932 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV E4S (v.9.0) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:21136 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:19932 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:9315 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time E4S (v.9.0) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:21136 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time E4S (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:21128 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:19886 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:9315 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV E4S (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:21128 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:19886 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7 ELS) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:23947 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7 ELS) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:23947 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time (v. 7 ELS) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:23960 |
Not affected: 4 products
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9)
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9)
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-53178
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-hjrq-8p9v-7m4p
References
More Linux Kernel vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-26358 tls: fix handling of zero-length records on the rx_list KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- 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-2023-53178 · CVE Program
- CVE-2023-53178 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-hjrq-8p9v-7m4p · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2023-53178 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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