cgroup: split cgroup_destroy_wq into 3 workqueues
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 3 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: cgroup: split cgroup_destroy_wq into 3 workqueues A hung task can occur during [1] LTP cgroup testing when repeatedly mounting/unmounting perf_event and net_prio controllers with systemd.unified_cgroup_hierarchy=1. The hang manifests in cgroup_lock_and_drain_offline() during root destruction. Related case: cgroup_fj_function_perf_event cgroup_fj_function.sh perf_event cgroup_fj_function_net_prio cgroup_fj_function.sh net_prio Call Trace: cgroup_lock_and_drain_offline+0x14c/0x1e8 cgroup_destroy_root+0x3c/0x2c0 css_free_rwork_fn+0x248/0x338 process_one_work+0x16c/0x3b8 worker_thread+0x22c/0x3b0 kthread+0xec/0x100 ret_from_fork+0x10/0x20 Root Cause: CPU0 CPU1 mount perf_event umount net_prio cgroup1_get_tree cgroup_kill_sb rebind_subsystems // root destruction enqueues // cgroup_destroy_wq // kill all perf_event css // one perf_event css A is dying // css A offline enqueues cgroup_destroy_wq // root destruction will be executed first css_free_rwork_fn cgroup_destroy_root cgroup_lock_and_drain_offline // some perf descendants are dying // cgroup_destroy_wq max_active = 1 // waiting for css A to die Problem scenario: 1. CPU0 mounts perf_event (rebind_subsystems) 2. CPU1 unmounts net_prio (cgroup_kill_sb), queuing root destruction work 3. A dying perf_event CSS gets queued for offline after root destruction 4. Root destruction waits for offline completion, but offline work is blocked behind root destruction in cgroup_destroy_wq (max_active=1) Solution: Split cgroup_destroy_wq into three dedicated workqueues: cgroup_offline_wq – Handles CSS offline operations cgroup_release_wq – Manages resource release cgroup_free_wq – Performs final memory deallocation This separation eliminates blocking in the CSS free path while waiting for offline operations to complete. [1] https://github.com/linux-test-project/ltp/blob/master/runtest/controllers
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 | 4.6 and later | 5.4.300, 5.10.245, 5.15.194, 6.1.154, 6.6.108, 6.12.49, 6.16.9, 6.17 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 4.6 and later Fixed in 5.4.300, 5.10.245, 5.15.194, 6.1.154, 6.6.108, 6.12.49, 6.16.9, 6.17 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 7
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.6 to before 5.4.300; 5.5 to before 5.10.245; 5.11 to before 5.15.194; 5.16 to before 6.1.154; 6.2 to before 6.6.108; 6.7 to before 6.12.49; 6.13 to before 6.16.9 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.17:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.17 rc1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.17:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.17 rc2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.17:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.17 rc3 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.17:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.17 rc4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.17:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.17 rc5 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.17:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.17 rc6 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.6 to before 5.4.300; 5.5 to before 5.10.245; 5.11 to before 5.15.194; 5.16 to before 6.1.154; 6.2 to before 6.6.108; 6.7 to before 6.12.49; 6.13 to before 6.16.9 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.17:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.17 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.17:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.17 rc2 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.17:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.17 rc3 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.17:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.17 rc4 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.17:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.17 rc5 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.17:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.17 rc6 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.4.300, 5.10.245, 5.15.194, 6.1.154, 6.6.108, 6.12.49, 6.16.9, 6.17
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-39953
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-vgcj-37hg-gm6g
References
Patch 8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cabadd7fd15f97090f752fd22dd7f876a0dc3dc4
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a0c896bda7077aa5005473e2c5b3c27173313b4c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f2795d1b92506e3adf52a298f7181032a1525e04
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/993049c9b1355c78918344a6403427d53f9ee700
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4a1e3ec28e8062cd9f339aa6a942df9c5bcb6811
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ded4d207a3209a834b6831ceec7f39b934c74802
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/05e0b03447cf215ec384210441b34b7a3b16e8b0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/79f919a89c9d06816dbdbbd168fa41d27411a7f9
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Sources
- CVE-2025-39953 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-39953 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-vgcj-37hg-gm6g · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2025-39953 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences