CVE-2025-39744
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: rcu: Fix rcu_read_unlock() deadloop due to IRQ work During rcu_read_unlock_special(), if this happens during irq_exit(), we can lockup if an IPI is issued.
Does this matter?
High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (0.16%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: rcu: Fix rcu_read_unlock() deadloop due to IRQ work During rcu_read_unlock_special(), if this happens during irq_exit(), we can lockup if an IPI is issued. This is because the IPI itself triggers the irq_exit() path causing a recursive lock up. This is precisely what Xiongfeng found when invoking a BPF program on the trace_tick_stop() tracepoint As shown in the trace below. Fix by managing the irq_work state correctly. irq_exit() __irq_exit_rcu() /* in_hardirq() returns false after this */ preempt_count_sub(HARDIRQ_OFFSET) tick_irq_exit() tick_nohz_irq_exit() tick_nohz_stop_sched_tick() trace_tick_stop() /* a bpf prog is hooked on this trace point */ __bpf_trace_tick_stop() bpf_trace_run2() rcu_read_unlock_special() /* will send a IPI to itself */ irq_work_queue_on(&rdp->defer_qs_iw, rdp->cpu); A simple reproducer can also be obtained by doing the following in tick_irq_exit(). It will hang on boot without the patch: static inline void tick_irq_exit(void) { + rcu_read_lock(); + WRITE_ONCE(current->rcu_read_unlock_special.b.need_qs, true); + rcu_read_unlock(); + [neeraj: Apply Frederic's suggested fix for PREEMPT_RT]
- CVSS 3.1
- 7.1 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H
- EPSS
- 0.16% probability · 5th percentile
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-125
- Affected
- linux/linux kernel
- Source
- 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1cfa244f7198d325594e627574930b7b91df5bfePatch
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/56c5ef194f4509df63fc0f7a91ea5973ce479b1ePatch
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b41642c87716bbd09797b1e4ea7d904f06c39b7bPatch
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ddebb2a7677673cf4438a04e1a48b8ed6b0c8e9aPatch
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e7a375453cca2b8a0d2fa1b82b913f3fed7c0507Patch
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA. Refreshed daily.