drm/i915/gt: fix refcount underflow in intel_engine_park_heartbeat
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 10 fixed, 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-191 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: drm/i915/gt: fix refcount underflow in intel_engine_park_heartbeat A use-after-free / refcount underflow is possible when the heartbeat worker and intel_engine_park_heartbeat() race to release the same engine->heartbeat.systole request. The heartbeat worker reads engine->heartbeat.systole and calls i915_request_put() on it when the request is complete, but clears the pointer in a separate, non-atomic step. Concurrently, a request retirement on another CPU can drop the engine wakeref to zero, triggering __engine_park() -> intel_engine_park_heartbeat(). If the heartbeat timer is pending at that point, cancel_delayed_work() returns true and intel_engine_park_heartbeat() reads the stale non-NULL systole pointer and calls i915_request_put() on it again, causing a refcount underflow: ``` <4> [487.221889] Workqueue: i915-unordered engine_retire [i915] <4> [487.222640] RIP: 0010:refcount_warn_saturate+0x68/0xb0 ... <4> [487.222707] Call Trace: <4> [487.222711] <TASK> <4> [487.222716] intel_engine_park_heartbeat.part.0+0x6f/0x80 [i915] <4> [487.223115] intel_engine_park_heartbeat+0x25/0x40 [i915] <4> [487.223566] __engine_park+0xb9/0x650 [i915] <4> [487.223973] ____intel_wakeref_put_last+0x2e/0xb0 [i915] <4> [487.224408] __intel_wakeref_put_last+0x72/0x90 [i915] <4> [487.224797] intel_context_exit_engine+0x7c/0x80 [i915] <4> [487.225238] intel_context_exit+0xf1/0x1b0 [i915] <4> [487.225695] i915_request_retire.part.0+0x1b9/0x530 [i915] <4> [487.226178] i915_request_retire+0x1c/0x40 [i915] <4> [487.226625] engine_retire+0x122/0x180 [i915] <4> [487.227037] process_one_work+0x239/0x760 <4> [487.227060] worker_thread+0x200/0x3f0 <4> [487.227068] ? __pfx_worker_thread+0x10/0x10 <4> [487.227075] kthread+0x10d/0x150 <4> [487.227083] ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 <4> [487.227092] ret_from_fork+0x3d4/0x480 <4> [487.227099] ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 <4> [487.227107] ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 <4> [487.227141] </TASK> ``` Fix this by replacing the non-atomic pointer read + separate clear with xchg() in both racing paths. xchg() is a single indivisible hardware instruction that atomically reads the old pointer and writes NULL. This guarantees only one of the two concurrent callers obtains the non-NULL pointer and performs the put, the other gets NULL and skips it. (cherry picked from commit 13238dc0ee4f9ab8dafa2cca7295736191ae2f42)
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
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 | 5.5 and later | 5.10.258, 5.15.203, 6.1.169, 6.6.135, 6.12.82, 6.18.23, 6.19.13, 7.0 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 5.5 and later Fixed in 5.10.258, 5.15.203, 6.1.169, 6.6.135, 6.12.82, 6.18.23, 6.19.13, 7.0 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 9
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.5.1 to before 5.15.203; 5.16 to before 6.1.169; 6.2 to before 6.6.135; 6.7 to before 6.12.82; 6.13 to before 6.18.23; 6.19 to before 6.19.13 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.5:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.5 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 rc1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 rc2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 rc3 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 rc4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 rc5 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 rc6 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 rc7 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.5.1 to before 5.15.203; 5.16 to before 6.1.169; 6.2 to before 6.6.135; 6.7 to before 6.12.82; 6.13 to before 6.18.23; 6.19 to before 6.19.13 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.5:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.5 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 rc2 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 rc3 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 rc4 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 rc5 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 rc6 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 rc7 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.258, 5.15.203, 6.1.169, 6.6.135, 6.12.82, 6.18.23, 6.19.13, 7.0
Red Hat 2 advisories
- RHSA-2026:67471 Released 2026-09-15 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) kernel-64k-debug-devel-6.12.0-211.55.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-6.12.0-211.55.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-devel-6.12.0-211.55.1.el10_2 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) kernel-6.12.0-211.55.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-6.12.0-211.55.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-core-6.12.0-211.55.1.el10_2 +29
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) kernel-tools-libs-devel-6.12.0-211.55.1.el10_2, libperf-6.12.0-211.55.1.el10_2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-211.55.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-64k-6.12.0-211.55.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-64k-core-6.12.0-211.55.1.el10_2 +21
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-211.55.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-core-6.12.0-211.55.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-debug-6.12.0-211.55.1.el10_2 +9
- RHSA-2026:67150 Released 2026-09-14 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-687.47.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-687.47.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-687.47.1.el9_8 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) kernel-5.14.0-687.47.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-5.14.0-687.47.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-core-5.14.0-687.47.1.el9_8 +28
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-687.47.1.el9_8, libperf-5.14.0-687.47.1.el9_8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-687.47.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-64k-5.14.0-687.47.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-64k-core-5.14.0-687.47.1.el9_8 +21
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-687.47.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-687.47.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-687.47.1.el9_8 +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 9 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:67471 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:67150 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:67471 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:67150 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:67471 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:67150 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:67471 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:67150 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:67471 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:67150 |
Not affected: 3 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-31656
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-4j69-96h5-q8g9
- 2026-10-16 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-19 Weakness changed · CISA ADP
References
Patch 7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/70d3e622b10092fc483e28e57b4e8c49d9cc7f68
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8ce44d28a84fd5e053a88b04872a89d95c0779d4
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ca3f48c3567dd49efdc55b80029ae74659c682ee
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a00e92bf6583d019a4fb2c2df7007e6c9b269ce7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2af8b200cae3fdd0e917ecc2753b28bb40c876c1
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/455d98ed527fc94eed90406f90ab2391464ca657
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4c71fd099513bfa8acab529b626e1f0097b76061
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- 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
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- 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-2026-31656 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-31656 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-4j69-96h5-q8g9 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-31656 · 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