writeback: fix race between cgroup_writeback_umount() and inode_switch_wbs()
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: 11 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: writeback: fix race between cgroup_writeback_umount() and inode_switch_wbs() When a container exits, the following BUG_ON() is occasionally triggered: ================================================================== VFS: Busy inodes after unmount of sdb (ext4) ------------[ cut here ]------------ kernel BUG at fs/super.c:695! CPU: 3 PID: 6 Comm: containerd-shim Tainted: G OE K 6.6 #1 pstate: 63400009 (nZCv daif +PAN -UAO +TCO +DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--) pc : generic_shutdown_super+0xf0/0x100 lr : generic_shutdown_super+0xf0/0x100 Call trace: generic_shutdown_super+0xf0/0x100 kill_block_super+0x20/0x48 ext4_kill_sb+0x28/0x60 deactivate_locked_super+0x54/0x130 deactivate_super+0x84/0xa0 cleanup_mnt+0xa4/0x140 __cleanup_mnt+0x18/0x28 task_work_run+0x78/0xe0 do_notify_resume+0x204/0x240 ================================================================== The root cause is a race between cgroup_writeback_umount() and inode_switch_wbs()/cleanup_offline_cgwb(). There is a window between inode_prepare_wbs_switch() returning true and the subsequent wb_queue_isw() call. Following is the process that triggers the issue: CPU A (umount) | CPU B (writeback) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ inode_switch_wbs/cleanup_offline_cgwb atomic_inc(&isw_nr_in_flight) inode_prepare_wbs_switch -> passes SB_ACTIVE check __iget(inode) generic_shutdown_super sb->s_flags &= ~SB_ACTIVE cgroup_writeback_umount(sb) smp_mb() atomic_read(&isw_nr_in_flight) rcu_barrier() -> no pending RCU callbacks flush_workqueue(isw_wq) -> nothing queued, returns evict_inodes(sb) -> Inode skipped as isw still holds a ref. sop->put_super(sb) /* destroys percpu counters */ -> VFS: Busy inodes after unmount! wb_queue_isw() queue_work(isw_wq, ...) /* later in work function */ inode_switch_wbs_work_fn process_inode_switch_wbs iput() -> evict percpu_counter_dec() // UAF! Fix this by extending the RCU read-side critical section in inode_switch_wbs() and cleanup_offline_cgwb() to cover from inode_prepare_wbs_switch() through wb_queue_isw(). Since there is no sleep in this window, rcu_read_lock() can be used. Then add a synchronize_rcu() in cgroup_writeback_umount() before the existing rcu_barrier(), so that all in-flight switchers that have passed the SB_ACTIVE check have completed queue_work() before flush_workqueue() is called. The existing rcu_barrier() is intentionally retained so this fix can be backported unchanged to stable kernels (5.10.y, 6.6.y, ...) that still queue switches via queue_rcu_work(). It is a no-op on current mainline (since commit e1b849cfa6b6 ("writeback: Avoid contention on wb->list_lock when switching inodes")) and is removed in a follow-up patch.
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 | 4.4.5 to before 4.5 | 4.5 | Patch available | CNA |
| Linux | Linux | 4.5 and later | 5.10.261, 6.1.178, 6.6.145, 6.12.96, 6.18.39, 7.1.4, 7.2 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 4.4.5 to before 4.5 Fixed in 4.5 Patch available CNA
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 4.5 and later Fixed in 5.10.261, 6.1.178, 6.6.145, 6.12.96, 6.18.39, 7.1.4, 7.2 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 3
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.4.5 to before 4.5; 4.5.1 to before 5.10.261; 5.11 to before 6.1.178; 6.2 to before 6.6.145; 6.7 to before 6.12.96; 6.13 to before 6.18.39; 6.19 to before 7.1.4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:4.5:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.5 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:4.5:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.5 rc7 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.4.5 to before 4.5; 4.5.1 to before 5.10.261; 5.11 to before 6.1.178; 6.2 to before 6.6.145; 6.7 to before 6.12.96; 6.13 to before 6.18.39; 6.19 to before 7.1.4 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:4.5:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.5 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:4.5:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.5 rc7 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 4.5
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.261, 6.1.178, 6.6.145, 6.12.96, 6.18.39, 7.1.4, 7.2
Red Hat 3 advisories
- RHSA-2026:95367 Released 2026-11-05 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- 10Base-SMTV kernel-modules-internal-6.12.0-211.74.1.el10_2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) kernel-64k-debug-devel-6.12.0-211.74.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-6.12.0-211.74.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-devel-6.12.0-211.74.1.el10_2 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) kernel-6.12.0-211.74.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-6.12.0-211.74.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-core-6.12.0-211.74.1.el10_2 +29
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) kernel-tools-libs-devel-6.12.0-211.74.1.el10_2, libperf-6.12.0-211.74.1.el10_2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Hidden (v. 10) kernel-modules-internal-6.12.0-211.74.1.el10_2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-211.74.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-64k-6.12.0-211.74.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-64k-core-6.12.0-211.74.1.el10_2 +21
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-211.74.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-core-6.12.0-211.74.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-debug-6.12.0-211.74.1.el10_2 +9
- RHSA-2026:89083 Released 2026-10-24 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) bpftool-4.18.0-553.178.1.el8_10, kernel-4.18.0-553.178.1.el8_10, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-553.178.1.el8_10 +19
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-553.178.1.el8_10
- RHSA-2026:89082 Released 2026-10-24 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-rt security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-553.178.1.rt7.519.el8_10, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-553.178.1.rt7.519.el8_10, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-553.178.1.rt7.519.el8_10 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-553.178.1.rt7.519.el8_10, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-553.178.1.rt7.519.el8_10, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-553.178.1.rt7.519.el8_10 +7
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 |
| 10Base-SMTV | Fixed | RHSA-2026:95367 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:95367 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:95367 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:89083 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:89083 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:95367 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Hidden (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:95367 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:89082 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:89082 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:95367 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:95367 |
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-64378
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-325c-m2q7-75hg
- 2026-10-16 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-16 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-20 Weakness changed · CISA ADP
- 2026-10-26 Fix available: RHSA-2026:89083 · Red Hat
- 2026-10-26 Fix available: Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8), Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) · Red Hat
- 2026-10-26 Fix available: RHSA-2026:89082 · Red Hat
- 2026-10-26 Fix available: Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8), Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) · Red Hat
- 2026-11-06 Fix available: 10Base-SMTV, Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10), Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) +4 · Red Hat
- 2026-11-06 Fix available: RHSA-2026:95367 · Red Hat
References
Patch 7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/087d5b8b501c570f84bf655164e6698c3ce146e0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3c9c9648f77e4d14e50676bc51c2174ba9c8d361
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5c3265f3252b2ee50707adaaa3f9bd0df3df72de
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c923cc3cb5cd8945ceaf08252754110643446593
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/685fc15a410885b6d4dee64de0dce721b9428b12
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/53eeaf4d63068dbc7708b0c7adb20151c812feca
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cba38ec4cbd3a7b8b942a8d52531a05be8a9ff0d
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Sources
- CVE-2026-64378 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-64378 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-325c-m2q7-75hg · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-64378 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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