Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
KVM: Use dedicated mutex to protect kvm_usage_count to avoid deadlock
Use a dedicated mutex to guard kvm_usage_count to fix a potential deadlock
on x86 due to a chain of locks and SRCU synchronizations. Translating the
below lockdep splat, CPU1 #6 will wait on CPU0 #1, CPU0 #8 will wait on
CPU2 #3, and CPU2 #7 will wait on CPU1 #4 (if there's a writer, due to the
fairness of r/w semaphores).
CPU0 CPU1 CPU2
1 lock(&kvm->slots_lock);
2 lock(&vcpu->mutex);
3 lock(&kvm->srcu);
4 lock(cpu_hotplug_lock);
5 lock(kvm_lock);
6 lock(&kvm->slots_lock);
7 lock(cpu_hotplug_lock);
8 sync(&kvm->srcu);
Note, there are likely more potential deadlocks in KVM x86, e.g. the same
pattern of taking cpu_hotplug_lock outside of kvm_lock likely exists with
__kvmclock_cpufreq_notifier():
cpuhp_cpufreq_online()
|
-> cpufreq_online()
|
-> cpufreq_gov_performance_limits()
|
-> __cpufreq_driver_target()
|
-> __target_index()
|
-> cpufreq_freq_transition_begin()
|
-> cpufreq_notify_transition()
|
-> ... __kvmclock_cpufreq_notifier()
But, actually triggering such deadlocks is beyond rare due to the
combination of dependencies and timings involved. E.g. the cpufreq
notifier is only used on older CPUs without a constant TSC, mucking with
the NX hugepage mitigation while VMs are running is very uncommon, and
doing so while also onlining/offlining a CPU (necessary to generate
contention on cpu_hotplug_lock) would be even more unusual.
The most robust solution to the general cpu_hotplug_lock issue is likely
to switch vm_list to be an RCU-protected list, e.g. so that x86's cpufreq
notifier doesn't to take kvm_lock. For now, settle for fixing the most
blatant deadlock, as switching to an RCU-protected list is a much more
involved change, but add a comment in locking.rst to call out that care
needs to be taken when walking holding kvm_lock and walking vm_list.
======================================================
WARNING: possible circular locking dependency detected
6.10.0-smp--c257535a0c9d-pip #330 Tainted: G S O
------------------------------------------------------
tee/35048 is trying to acquire lock:
ff6a80eced71e0a8 (&kvm->slots_lock){+.+.}-{3:3}, at: set_nx_huge_pages+0x179/0x1e0 [kvm]
but task is already holding lock:
ffffffffc07abb08 (kvm_lock){+.+.}-{3:3}, at: set_nx_huge_pages+0x14a/0x1e0 [kvm]
which lock already depends on the new lock.
the existing dependency chain (in reverse order) is:
-> #3 (kvm_lock){+.+.}-{3:3}:
__mutex_lock+0x6a/0xb40
mutex_lock_nested+0x1f/0x30
kvm_dev_ioctl+0x4fb/0xe50 [kvm]
__se_sys_ioctl+0x7b/0xd0
__x64_sys_ioctl+0x21/0x30
x64_sys_call+0x15d0/0x2e60
do_syscall_64+0x83/0x160
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e
-> #2 (cpu_hotplug_lock){++++}-{0:0}:
cpus_read_lock+0x2e/0xb0
static_key_slow_inc+0x16/0x30
kvm_lapic_set_base+0x6a/0x1c0 [kvm]
kvm_set_apic_base+0x8f/0xe0 [kvm]
kvm_set_msr_common+0x9ae/0xf80 [kvm]
vmx_set_msr+0xa54/0xbe0 [kvm_intel]
__kvm_set_msr+0xb6/0x1a0 [kvm]
kvm_arch_vcpu_ioctl+0xeca/0x10c0 [kvm]
kvm_vcpu_ioctl+0x485/0x5b0 [kvm]
__se_sys_ioctl+0x7b/0xd0
__x64_sys_ioctl+0x21/0x30
x64_sys_call+0x15d0/0x2e60
do_syscall_64+0x83/0x160
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e
-> #1 (&kvm->srcu){.+.+}-{0:0}:
__synchronize_srcu+0x44/0x1a0
---truncated---
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 6.3 | 6.6.54 |
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 | 6.11.2-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 6.11.2-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux | 6.8.0-54.56 | USN-7301-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-aws | 6.8.0-1023.25 | USN-7311-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-azure | 6.8.0-1025.30 | USN-7384-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 6.8.0-1024.26 | USN-7304-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gke +1 | 6.8.0-1019.23 | USN-7304-1, USN-7303-3 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gkeop | 6.8.0-1006.8 | USN-7304-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-ibm | 6.8.0-1022.22 | USN-7385-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency | 6.8.0-54.56.1 | USN-7301-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia | 6.8.0-1022.25 | USN-7303-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-lowlatency | 6.8.0-1022.25.2 | USN-7303-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-oem-6.11 | 6.11.0-1015.15 | USN-7310-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-oem-6.8 | 6.8.0-1024.24 | USN-7386-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 6.8.0-1020.21 | USN-7303-2 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-realtime | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-riscv | 6.8.0-53.55.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-aws-6.8 | 6.8.0-1023.25~22.04.1 | USN-7311-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure-6.8 | 6.8.0-1025.30~22.04.1 | USN-7384-2 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gcp-6.8 | 6.8.0-1024.26~22.04.1 | USN-7303-3 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-57.59~22.04.1 | USN-7403-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-54.56.1~22.04.1 | USN-7301-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-6.8 | 6.8.0-1022.25~22.04.2 | USN-7303-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-oracle-6.8 | 6.8.0-1020.21~22.04.1 | USN-7303-2 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +32 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv-6.8 | 6.8.0-53.55.1~22.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +26 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +13 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe-edge | No fix yet | — |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-raspi-realtime | 6.8.0-2018.19 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-realtime | 6.8.1-1016.17 | — |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP6 | kernel-64kb +6 | 6.4.0-150600.23.30.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:4318-1 |
| SLES 15 SP6 | kernel-azure | 6.4.0-150600.8.17.2 | SUSE-SU-2024:3984-1 |
| SLES 15 SP6 | kernel-coco +3 | 6.4.0-15061.9.coco15sp6.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:4387-1 |
| SLES 15 SP6 | kernel-default-base | 6.4.0-150600.23.30.1.150600.12.12.6 | SUSE-SU-2024:4318-1 |
| SLES 15 SP6 | kernel-syms-azure +1 | 6.4.0-150600.8.17.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:3984-1 |
Show 4 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLE Micro 6.1 | kernel-default-base | 6.4.0-24.1.21.4 | SUSE-SU-2025:20247-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.1 | kernel-livepatch-MICRO-6-0-RT_Update_4 | 1-1.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:20246-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.1 | kernel-livepatch-MICRO-6-0_Update_4 | 1-1.2 | SUSE-SU-2025:20247-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.1 | kernel-rt +1 | 6.4.0-22.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:20246-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.1 | kernel-source +2 | 6.4.0-24.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:20247-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.0 | kernel-default-base | 6.4.0-24.1.21.4 | SUSE-SU-2025:20164-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.0 | kernel-livepatch-MICRO-6-0-RT_Update_4 | 1-1.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:20163-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.0 | kernel-livepatch-MICRO-6-0_Update_4 | 1-1.2 | SUSE-SU-2025:20164-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.0 | kernel-rt +1 | 6.4.0-22.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:20163-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.0 | kernel-source +2 | 6.4.0-24.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:20164-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP6 | kernel-default | 6.4.0-150600.23.30.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:4318-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP6 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP6-RT_Update_5 | 1-150600.1.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:3986-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP6 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP6_Update_6 | 1-150600.13.3.5 | SUSE-SU-2024:4318-1 |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP6 | kernel-rt +3 | 6.4.0-150600.10.17.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:3986-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | kernel-source | 6.11.8-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:14500-1 |
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | kernel-source-longterm | 6.12.11-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2025:14705-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.6 | dtb-aarch64 +10 | 6.4.0-150600.23.30.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:4318-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.6 | kernel-azure | 6.4.0-150600.8.17.2 | SUSE-SU-2024:3984-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.6 | kernel-default-base | 6.4.0-150600.23.30.1.150600.12.12.6 | SUSE-SU-2024:4318-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.6 | kernel-rt +3 | 6.4.0-150600.10.17.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:3986-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.6 | kernel-syms-azure +1 | 6.4.0-150600.8.17.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:3984-1 |
Azure Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Linux 3 | kernel | 6.6.56.1-5 | — |
Advisories 23
- WID-SEC-2024-3251 Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Denial of Service BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Nov 11, 2026
- USN-7310-1 linux-oem-6.11 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 3, 2026
- USN-7384-2 linux-azure-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 30, 2026
- USN-7384-1 linux-azure vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 30, 2026
- USN-7386-1 linux-oem-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 29, 2026
- USN-7303-1 linux-nvidia, linux-nvidia-6.8, linux-nvidia-lowlatency vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 29, 2026
- USN-7304-1 linux-gcp, linux-gke, linux-gkeop vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 29, 2026
- USN-7301-1 linux, linux-lowlatency, linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 29, 2026
- USN-7403-1 linux-hwe-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 29, 2026
- USN-7303-2 linux-oracle, linux-oracle-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 29, 2026
- USN-7311-1 linux-aws, linux-aws-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 29, 2026
- USN-7385-1 linux-ibm vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 29, 2026
- USN-7303-3 linux-gcp-6.8, linux-raspi vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 29, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:20163-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Mar 23, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:20246-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Mar 23, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:20164-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Mar 23, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:20247-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Mar 23, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:4318-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:3984-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:3986-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2025:14705-1 kernel-devel-longterm-6.12.11-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:14500-1 kernel-devel-6.11.8-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:4387-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026