Missed reschedule after scheduler class change in Linux kernel
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
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- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 1 without a fix
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The Linux kernel from 7.0 is affected. When a queued task that is not running has its scheduling class changed, the scheduler skips the reschedule and the update that raises the next class, so a runnable real-time task can wait while its CPU idles. The flaw is a race between a task wakeup and a scheduling policy change in sched/core.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
Description from the CNA
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sched/core: Call wakeup_preempt() for queued tasks during class change Paul reported recent RCU changes exposed a lost resched where CPU idles with a rcutorture thread waiting while being completely runnable. Dumping the rq state at the time of idling with runnable tasks showed the following: rq->next_class = &fair_sched_class rq->nr_running = 1 rq->cfs.h_nr_queued = 0 rq->rt.rt_nr_running = 1 Although the waiting task was an RT task, "rq->next_class" did not point to rt_sched_class and was stuck at the lower priority fair_sched_class. Inspecting sched_change_end() revealed the following race with __sched_setscheduler() for queued, but non-running tasks: CPU0 CPU1 ==== ==== __schedule() /* * rq->donor is a fair task that blocks. * rq->next_class = &fair_sched_class */ rq_lock(rq0) pick_next_task() /* nr_running = 0 */ pick_task_fair() sched_balance_newidle() raw_spin_rq_unlock(rq0) rq_lock(rq0) activate_task(rq0, p) /* p is a fair task */ rq0->nr_running++; rq0->cfs.h_nr_queued++; wakeup_preempt(rq, p) rq->next_class = &fair_sched_class resched_curr() rq_unlock(rq0) __sched_setscheduler(p) /* p is moved to SCHED_RR */ task_rq_lock(p) sched_change_begin() rq0->cfs.h_nr_queued--; rq0->rt.rt_nr_running++; sched_change_end() /* * p->on_rq = 1 (ctx->queued) * but p is not rq->donor * (!ctx->running) hence * resched_curr() is and * rq->next_class upgrade is * skipped. */ task_rq_unlock() raw_spin_rq_lock(rq0) /* * rq->nr_running = 1 * rq->cfs.h_nr_queued = 0 * rq->rt.rt_nr_running = 1 * rq->next_class = &fair_sched_class */ if (rq->cfs.h_nr_queued && ...) /* Above is false */ if (rq_modified_above(this_rq, &fair_sched_class)) /* Also false since rq->next_class is still fair */ /* * sched_balance_newidle() is considered to * have failed to pull any fair tasks and no * other wakeups were detected. */ return NULL; /* pick_task_fair() */ pick_task_idle() return rq->idle; next = rq->idle; /* Preemption indicators are lost */ clear_tsk_need_resched(prev); clear_preempt_need_resched(); rq->curr = rq->idle; !!! rq->idle switches in with rq->running == 1 but !need_resched() !!! In simple words, enqueue, followed by a class change of the newly queued task goes unnoticed in rq->next_class indicator and sched_balance_newidle() sees no fair task, nor any higher priority task enqueued. The above sequence will lead to CPU idling with a runnable task on the CPU. Call wakeup_preempt() for ctx->queued cases in sched_change_end() to re-evaluate rq->next_class after class change (ENQUEUE_CLASS) and set the NEED_RESCHED indicator accordingly. Newidle balance will correctly see an enqueue of a higher priority t ---truncated---
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
Update the Linux kernel to 7.2.13 or 7.3. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 is affected, and Red Hat lists no fix available for it.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 7.2.13, 7.3
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 |
Not affected: 6 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5
Timeline
- 2026-10-28 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-99205
- 2026-10-28 Alias added: GHSA-2frc-h2g3-59hw
- 2026-10-29 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-29 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-11-06 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
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Sources
- CVE-2026-99205 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-99205 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-2frc-h2g3-59hw · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-99205 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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