flex_proportions: make fprop_new_period() hardirq safe
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
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: flex_proportions: make fprop_new_period() hardirq safe Bernd has reported a lockdep splat from flexible proportions code that is essentially complaining about the following race: <timer fires> run_timer_softirq - we are in softirq context call_timer_fn writeout_period fprop_new_period write_seqcount_begin(&p->sequence); <hardirq is raised> ... blk_mq_end_request() blk_update_request() ext4_end_bio() folio_end_writeback() __wb_writeout_add() __fprop_add_percpu_max() if (unlikely(max_frac < FPROP_FRAC_BASE)) { fprop_fraction_percpu() seq = read_seqcount_begin(&p->sequence); - sees odd sequence so loops indefinitely Note that a deadlock like this is only possible if the bdi has configured maximum fraction of writeout throughput which is very rare in general but frequent for example for FUSE bdis. To fix this problem we have to make sure write section of the sequence counter is irqsafe.
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 | 6.0 and later | 6.1.162, 6.6.123, 6.12.69, 6.18.9, 6.19 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 6.0 and later Fixed in 6.1.162, 6.6.123, 6.12.69, 6.18.9, 6.19 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 8
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.0 to before 6.1.162; 6.2 to before 6.6.123; 6.7 to before 6.12.69; 6.13 to before 6.18.9 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.19 rc1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.19 rc2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.19 rc3 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.19 rc4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.19 rc5 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.19 rc6 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.19 rc7 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.0 to before 6.1.162; 6.2 to before 6.6.123; 6.7 to before 6.12.69; 6.13 to before 6.18.9 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.19 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.19 rc2 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.19 rc3 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.19 rc4 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.19 rc5 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.19 rc6 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.19 rc7 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.1.162, 6.6.123, 6.12.69, 6.18.9, 6.19
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2026:42919 Released 2026-07-21 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) kernel-64k-debug-devel-6.12.0-211.37.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-6.12.0-211.37.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-devel-6.12.0-211.37.1.el10_2 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) kernel-6.12.0-211.37.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-6.12.0-211.37.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-core-6.12.0-211.37.1.el10_2 +29
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) kernel-tools-libs-devel-6.12.0-211.37.1.el10_2, libperf-6.12.0-211.37.1.el10_2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-211.37.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-64k-6.12.0-211.37.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-64k-core-6.12.0-211.37.1.el10_2 +21
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-211.37.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-core-6.12.0-211.37.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-debug-6.12.0-211.37.1.el10_2 +9
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:42919 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:42919 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:42919 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:42919 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:42919 |
Not affected: 4 products
- 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-2026-23168
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-7xmm-c998-f7c9
References
Patch 5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0acc9ba7a1b5ba4d998c5753e709be904e179b75
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/884b2590ffcc7222cbbd6298051f4c243cc36f5d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/78ede9ebd679dadf480dce6f7b798e3603f88348
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b91a84299d72ae0e05551e851e47cd3008bd025b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dd9e2f5b38f1fdd49b1ab6d3a85f81c14369eacc
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- TI-2021-05514 Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.3
Sources
- CVE-2026-23168 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-23168 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-7xmm-c998-f7c9 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-23168 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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