Description
A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's implementation of biovecs in versions before 5.9-rc7. A zero-length biovec request issued by the block subsystem could cause the kernel to enter an infinite loop, causing a denial of service. This flaw allows a local attacker with basic privileges to issue requests to a block device, resulting in a denial of service. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to system availability.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | kernel | kernel versions before 5.9-rc7 | — |
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | linux | 5.8.10-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 5.8.10-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 5.8.10-1 | — |
| Debian 9 | linux | 4.9.240-1 | DLA-2420-1 |
| Debian 9 | linux-4.19 | 4.19.146-1~deb9u1 | DLA-2385-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-raspi-realtime | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-realtime +1 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux | 5.4.0-51.56 | USN-4576-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-aws +2 | 5.4.0-1028.29 | USN-4576-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-azure | 5.4.0-1031.32 | USN-4576-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-kvm | 5.4.0-1026.27 | USN-4576-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-oem-5.6 | 5.6.0-1048.52 | USN-4752-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-raspi | 5.4.0-1021.24 | USN-4576-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-raspi2 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-riscv | 5.4.0-36.41 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux | 4.15.0-126.129 | USN-4660-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-aws | 4.15.0-1088.93 | USN-4660-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-aws-5.4 +2 | 5.4.0-1028.29~18.04.1 | USN-4576-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-azure-4.15 | 4.15.0-1100.111 | USN-4660-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-azure-5.4 | 5.4.0-1031.32~18.04.1 | USN-4576-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-dell300x | 4.15.0-1007.11 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +11 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp-4.15 | 4.15.0-1088.101 | USN-4660-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gke-5.4 | 5.4.0-1027.28~18.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gkeop-5.4 | 5.4.0-1003.3 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-hwe-5.4 | 5.4.0-51.56~18.04.1 | USN-4576-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-kvm | 4.15.0-1079.81 | USN-4660-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-oem | 4.15.0-1103.114 | USN-4660-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 4.15.0-1059.65 | USN-4660-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-raspi-5.4 | 5.4.0-1021.24~18.04.1 | USN-4576-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-raspi2 +1 | 4.15.0-1074.79 | USN-4660-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-snapdragon | 4.15.0-1091.100 | USN-4660-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-aws-hwe | 4.15.0-1088.93~16.04.1 | USN-4660-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-azure | 4.15.0-1100.111~16.04.1 | USN-4660-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 4.15.0-1088.101~16.04.1 | USN-4660-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe | 4.15.0-126.129~16.04.1 | USN-4660-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe-edge | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 4.15.0-1059.65~16.04.1 | USN-4660-1 |
Show 5 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS 20.04 LTS | linux-aws-fips +2 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS 18.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS | linux-aws-fips | 5.4.0-1069.73+fips2 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS | linux-azure-fips | 5.4.0-1073.76+fips1 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS | linux-gcp-fips | 5.4.0-1067.71~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 18.04 LTS | linux-aws-fips | 4.15.0-2031.32 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 18.04 LTS | linux-azure-fips | 4.15.0-2013.15 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 18.04 LTS | linux-fips | 4.15.0-1046.53 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | linux-azure | 4.15.0-1100.111~14.04.1 | USN-4660-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 8 | kernel-rt +12 | 4.18.0-240.rt7.54.el8 | RHSA-2020:4609 |
| RHEL 8 | perf +26 | 4.18.0-240.el8 | RHSA-2020:4431 |
| RHEL 7 | perf +13 | 4.14.0-115.33.1.el7a | RHSA-2020:5079 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 8.2 EUS | kernel-rt +12 | 4.18.0-193.40.1.rt13.90.el8_2 | RHSA-2021:0136 |
| RHEL 8.2 EUS | perf +27 | 4.18.0-193.40.1.el8_2 | RHSA-2021:0073 |
| RHEL 8.1 EUS | perf +25 | 4.18.0-147.34.1.el8_1 | RHSA-2020:5374 |
AlmaLinux
Errata ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlmaLinux 8 | kernel-tools-libs-devel | 4.18.0-240.el8 | ALSA-2020:4431 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP2 | kernel-azure +2 | 5.3.18-18.24.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3491-1 |
| SLES 15 SP2 | kernel-default-base | 5.3.18-24.29.2.9.9.3 | SUSE-SU-2020:2980-1 |
| SLES 15 SP2 | kernel-docs +5 | 5.3.18-24.29.2 | SUSE-SU-2020:2980-1 |
| SLES 15 SP1 | kernel-azure +2 | 4.12.14-8.47.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:2906-1 |
| SLES 15 SP1 | kernel-docs +5 | 4.12.14-197.61.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:2905-1 |
| SLES 15 | kernel-docs +6 | 4.12.14-150.63.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3532-1 |
| SLES 12 SP5 | kernel-azure +2 | 4.12.14-16.31.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:2907-1 |
| SLES 12 SP5 | kernel-docs +4 | 4.12.14-122.41.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:2904-1 |
| SLES 12 SP4 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.12.14-95.65.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3544-1 |
Show 20 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP3 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.4.180-94.135.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3503-1 |
| SLES 12 SP3 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP3_Update_36 | 1-4.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3503-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 | kernel-docs +5 | 4.12.14-150.63.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3532-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP5 | kernel-azure +2 | 4.12.14-16.31.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:2907-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP5 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.12.14-122.41.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:2904-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP4 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.12.14-95.65.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3544-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP3 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.4.180-94.135.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3503-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP3 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP3_Update_36 | 1-4.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3503-1 |
| SLE Real Time 12 SP5 | kernel-rt +3 | 4.12.14-10.19.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:2999-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP2 | kernel-default | 5.3.18-24.29.2 | SUSE-SU-2020:2980-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP2 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP2_Update_5 | 1-5.3.3 | SUSE-SU-2020:2980-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP1 | kernel-default | 4.12.14-197.61.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:2905-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP1 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP1_Update_16 | 1-3.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:2905-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 | kernel-default | 4.12.14-150.63.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3532-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15_Update_21 | 1-1.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3532-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 SP5 | kernel-default | 4.12.14-122.41.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:2904-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 SP5 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP5_Update_10 | 1-8.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:2904-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 SP4 | kernel-default | 4.12.14-95.65.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3544-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 SP4 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP4_Update_17 | 1-6.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3544-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 | kernel-docs +5 | 4.12.14-150.63.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3532-1 |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP2 | kernel-rt +3 | 5.3.18-13.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3230-1 |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP1 | kernel-rt +3 | 4.12.14-14.36.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3014-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 9 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.12.14-95.65.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3544-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 8 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.4.180-94.135.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3503-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 8 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP3_Update_36 | 1-4.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3503-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 9 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.12.14-95.65.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3544-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 8 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.4.180-94.135.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3503-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 8 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP3_Update_36 | 1-4.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3503-1 |
| SUSE HPE Helion OpenStack 8 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.4.180-94.135.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3503-1 |
| SUSE HPE Helion OpenStack 8 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP3_Update_36 | 1-4.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3503-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 5 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.4.180-94.135.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3503-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 5 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP3_Update_36 | 1-4.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3503-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Leap 15.2 | kernel-debug +5 | 5.3.18-lp152.47.2 | openSUSE-SU-2020:1698-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.2 | kernel-default-base | 5.3.18-lp152.50.1.lp152.8.10.1 | openSUSE-SU-2020:2112-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.2 | kernel-docs +2 | 5.3.18-lp152.47.1 | openSUSE-SU-2020:1698-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.2 | kernel-rt +3 | 5.3.18-lp152.3.5.1 | openSUSE-SU-2021:0242-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.1 | kernel-debug +5 | 4.12.14-lp151.28.71.2 | openSUSE-SU-2020:1655-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.1 | kernel-docs +2 | 4.12.14-lp151.28.71.1 | openSUSE-SU-2020:1655-1 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 8 | perf +19 | 4.18.0-240.el8 | ELSA-2020-4431 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | perf +10 | 4.14.35-2025.402.2.1.el7uek | ELSA-2020-5913 |
Advisories 30
- ALSA-2020:4431 Moderate: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update AlmaLinux Security Advisories · Oct 29, 2026
- RHSA-2020:4431 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Oct 17, 2026
- RHSA-2020:4609 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Aug 7, 2026
- RHSA-2021:0136 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2021:0073 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2020:5374 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2020:5079 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-alt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- USN-4752-1 linux-oem-5.6 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 3, 2026
- USN-4660-1 linux, linux-aws, linux-aws-hwe, linux-azure, linux-azure-4.15, linux-gcp, linux-gcp-4.15, linux-gke-4.15, linux-hwe, linux-kvm, linux-oem, linux-oracle, linux-raspi2, linux-snapdragon vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 3, 2026
- USN-4576-1 linux, linux-aws, linux-aws-5.4, linux-azure, linux-azure-5.4, linux-gcp, linux-gcp-5.4, linux-hwe-5.4, linux-kvm, linux-oracle, linux-oracle-5.4, linux-raspi, linux-raspi-5.4 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 3, 2026
- DLA-2385-1 linux-4.19 - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-2420-1 linux - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2020:3230-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2021:0242-1 Security update for RT kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2020:2980-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2020:2905-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2020:2907-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2020:3544-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2020:3491-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2020:2906-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2020:1698-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2020:3532-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2020:1655-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2020:2904-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2020:2999-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2020:3014-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2020:2112-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 7, 2025
- SUSE-SU-2020:3503-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
- ELSA-2020-4431 Moderate: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update (Oracle Linux 8) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Nov 10, 2020
- ELSA-2020-5913 Important: Unbreakable Enterprise kernel security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Nov 10, 2020
References
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1881424
- https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=7e24969022cbd61ddc586f14824fc205661bb124
- https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/block/biovecs.html
- [oss-security] 20201006 Re: CVE-2020-25641 kernel: soft lockup when submitting zero length bvecs. mailing-list
- openSUSE-SU-2020:1655 vendor-advisory
- USN-4576-1 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2020:1698 vendor-advisory
- [debian-lts-announce] 20201030 [SECURITY] [DLA 2420-1] linux security update mailing-list
- [debian-lts-announce] 20201031 [SECURITY] [DLA 2420-2] linux regression update mailing-list