rcu: Fix rcu_read_unlock() deadloop due to IRQ work
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · None · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: rcu: Fix rcu_read_unlock() deadloop due to IRQ work During rcu_read_unlock_special(), if this happens during irq_exit(), we can lockup if an IPI is issued. This is because the IPI itself triggers the irq_exit() path causing a recursive lock up. This is precisely what Xiongfeng found when invoking a BPF program on the trace_tick_stop() tracepoint As shown in the trace below. Fix by managing the irq_work state correctly. irq_exit() __irq_exit_rcu() /* in_hardirq() returns false after this */ preempt_count_sub(HARDIRQ_OFFSET) tick_irq_exit() tick_nohz_irq_exit() tick_nohz_stop_sched_tick() trace_tick_stop() /* a bpf prog is hooked on this trace point */ __bpf_trace_tick_stop() bpf_trace_run2() rcu_read_unlock_special() /* will send a IPI to itself */ irq_work_queue_on(&rdp->defer_qs_iw, rdp->cpu); A simple reproducer can also be obtained by doing the following in tick_irq_exit(). It will hang on boot without the patch: static inline void tick_irq_exit(void) { + rcu_read_lock(); + WRITE_ONCE(current->rcu_read_unlock_special.b.need_qs, true); + rcu_read_unlock(); + [neeraj: Apply Frederic's suggested fix for PREEMPT_RT]
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 5.3 and later | 6.1.191, 6.6.103, 6.12.43, 6.15.11, 6.16.2, 6.17 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 5.3 and later Fixed in 6.1.191, 6.6.103, 6.12.43, 6.15.11, 6.16.2, 6.17 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 6.6.103; 6.7 to before 6.12.43; 6.13 to before 6.15.11; 6.16 to before 6.16.2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 6.6.103; 6.7 to before 6.12.43; 6.13 to before 6.15.11; 6.16 to before 6.16.2 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.1.191, 6.6.103, 6.12.43, 6.15.11, 6.16.2, 6.17
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Not affected: 5 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-39744
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-vqg7-j8rg-9mw8
- 2026-10-30 Fix available: Linux/[email protected], Linux/Linux@6b552ffd21f9be57806ade167a757f32dd66a98d · CNA
- 2026-10-30 1 new reference · CNA
References
Patch 5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e7a375453cca2b8a0d2fa1b82b913f3fed7c0507
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1cfa244f7198d325594e627574930b7b91df5bfe
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ddebb2a7677673cf4438a04e1a48b8ed6b0c8e9a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/56c5ef194f4509df63fc0f7a91ea5973ce479b1e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b41642c87716bbd09797b1e4ea7d904f06c39b7b
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Sources
- CVE-2025-39744 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-39744 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-vqg7-j8rg-9mw8 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2025-39744 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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