Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
rcu: Protect rcu_print_task_exp_stall() ->exp_tasks access
For kernels built with CONFIG_PREEMPT_RCU=y, the following scenario can
result in a NULL-pointer dereference:
CPU1 CPU2
rcu_preempt_deferred_qs_irqrestore rcu_print_task_exp_stall
if (special.b.blocked) READ_ONCE(rnp->exp_tasks) != NULL
raw_spin_lock_rcu_node
np = rcu_next_node_entry(t, rnp)
if (&t->rcu_node_entry == rnp->exp_tasks)
WRITE_ONCE(rnp->exp_tasks, np)
....
raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore_rcu_node
raw_spin_lock_irqsave_rcu_node
t = list_entry(rnp->exp_tasks->prev,
struct task_struct, rcu_node_entry)
(if rnp->exp_tasks is NULL, this
will dereference a NULL pointer)
The problem is that CPU2 accesses the rcu_node structure's->exp_tasks
field without holding the rcu_node structure's ->lock and CPU2 did
not observe CPU1's change to rcu_node structure's ->exp_tasks in time.
Therefore, if CPU1 sets rcu_node structure's->exp_tasks pointer to NULL,
then CPU2 might dereference that NULL pointer.
This commit therefore holds the rcu_node structure's ->lock while
accessing that structure's->exp_tasks field.
[ paulmck: Apply Frederic Weisbecker feedback. ]
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 5.8 | 5.10.181 |
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 | 6.3.7-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 6.3.7-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 6.1.37-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Nvidia-BlueField 22.04 LTS | linux-bluefield | 5.15.0-1023.25 | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-intel +9 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux +1 | 5.15.0-83.92 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-aws | 5.15.0-1044.49 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure | 5.15.0-1046.53 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde | 5.15.0-1046.53.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 5.15.0-1041.49 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gke +1 | 5.15.0-1041.46 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gkeop | 5.15.0-1027.32 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-ibm +1 | 5.15.0-1037.40 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-intel-iotg | 5.15.0-1039.45 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-nvidia | 5.15.0-1032.32 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | 5.15.0-1017.17 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra-igx | 5.15.0-1004.4 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 5.15.0-1042.48 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +32 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-xilinx-zynqmp | 5.15.0-1025.29 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-aws-5.15 | 5.15.0-1044.49~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-azure-5.15 | 5.15.0-1046.53~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gcp-5.15 | 5.15.0-1041.49~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +28 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-hwe-5.15 +1 | 5.15.0-83.92~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-ibm-5.15 | 5.15.0-1037.40~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-intel-iotg-5.15 | 5.15.0-1040.46~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15 | 5.15.0-1017.17~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-oracle-5.15 | 5.15.0-1042.48~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-riscv-5.15 | 5.15.0-1040.44~20.04.3 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +14 | No fix yet | — |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe-edge | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS | linux-intel-iot-realtime | 5.15.0-1038.40 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS | linux-realtime | 5.15.0-1045.50 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-preview 22.04 LTS | linux-fips | No fix yet | — |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2023 | kernel-livepatch-6.1.34-56.100 | 1.0-0.amzn2023 | ALAS2023-2023-228 |
| Amazon Linux 2023 | perf +12 | 6.1.34-56.100.amzn2023 | ALAS2023-2023-228 |
Advisories 2
- WID-SEC-2025-2092 Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Denial of Service BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Nov 9, 2026
- ALAS2023-2023-228 Important: kernel security update (Amazon Linux 2023) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Feb 11, 2026
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a7d21b8585894e6fff973f6ddae42f02b13f600f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e30a55e98ae6c44253d8b129efefd5da5bc6e3bc
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d0a8c0e31a09ec1efd53079083e2a677956b4d91
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2bc0ae94ef1f9ed322d8ee439de3239ea3632ab2
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3c1566bca3f8349f12b75d0a2d5e4a20ad6262ec