Missing memory barrier in Linux kernel io-wq exit path
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: 4 without a fix
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The Linux kernel io-wq component is affected from 5.15.11 before 5.15.224, and from 5.16 until the branch fixes listed in the sources. In io_wq_exit_start(), the exit bit is set without a memory barrier, so the exiting task can read the queued task work before the bit store is visible. A queued worker creation entry then stays queued, and the exit path waits indefinitely.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-04
Description from the CNA
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: io-wq: order the exit bit against worker creation task work io_wq_exit_workers() cancels task work for queued worker creation with task_work_cancel_match(). That has a plain load of task->task_works. io_queue_worker_create() adds the new entry and tests IO_WQ_BIT_EXIT to cancel it if the workqueue is already on its way out. That must be ordered. task_work_add() has a full barrier via cmpxchg(). But io_wq_exit_start() sets the bit with set_bit() which doesn't have any memory ordering. So afaict, on weakly ordered architectures the exiting task may load task_works before the store of the bit is visible. The other side tests the bit before the store is visible as well. So the entry remains queued with worker_refs and the exiting task waits on worker_done indefinitely. If the task still has rings then io_uring_del_tctx_node() provides the barrier via test_and_set_bit() in io_wq_set_exit_on_idle(). When it has closed all rings though that barrier is gone. Add the barrier after the set_bit().
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
Upgrade to Linux kernel 5.15.224, 6.1.191, 6.6.161, 6.12.115, 6.18.60, 7.2.14, 7.3.1 or 7.4-rc1, or a later release of the same branch. Red Hat lists no available fix plan for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 and 10 and OpenShift Container Platform 4 and 5.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-04
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.15.224
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.15.224, 6.1.191, 6.6.161, 6.12.115, 6.18.60, 7.2.14, 7.3.1, 7.4-rc1
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 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 4 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4
Timeline
- 2026-11-03 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-99243
- 2026-11-03 Alias added: GHSA-f2f3-p4r7-62cx
- 2026-11-03 Fix available: Linux/Linux@0e5663856b69219ef2f02e04bac9f5c5be19718a, Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-11-03 1 new reference · CNA
- 2026-11-04 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-11-04 CVSS score added · Red Hat
References
Other 8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/67da3eec264aeb67835886720243ae2dc1463315
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a63c752157eacf49f628359822666b32503d194a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1432d881d99584105122760133caeff1dce7a9f7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6cf012a4d5e461c788ecc9dbed67adc31a142644
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0d81cdd433b0a96c5275c01b8172e0b1f71dd595
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/75395db7a9b40a2e826c838e648fef8ed1a2d174
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/31fc780b75b278d37700373d54a99fdb4117fdd6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0e5663856b69219ef2f02e04bac9f5c5be19718a
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Sources
- CVE-2026-99243 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-99243 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-f2f3-p4r7-62cx · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-99243 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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