Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
quota: fix livelock between quotactl and freeze_super
When a filesystem is frozen, quotactl_block() enters a retry loop
waiting for the filesystem to thaw. It acquires s_umount, checks the
freeze state, drops s_umount and uses sb_start_write() - sb_end_write()
pair to wait for the unfreeze.
However, this retry loop can trigger a livelock issue, specifically on
kernels with preemption disabled.
The mechanism is as follows:
1. freeze_super() sets SB_FREEZE_WRITE and calls sb_wait_write().
2. sb_wait_write() calls percpu_down_write(), which initiates
synchronize_rcu().
3. Simultaneously, quotactl_block() spins in its retry loop, immediately
executing the sb_start_write() - sb_end_write() pair.
4. Because the kernel is non-preemptible and the loop contains no
scheduling points, quotactl_block() never yields the CPU. This
prevents that CPU from reaching an RCU quiescent state.
5. synchronize_rcu() in the freezer thread waits indefinitely for the
quotactl_block() CPU to report a quiescent state.
6. quotactl_block() spins indefinitely waiting for the freezer to
advance, which it cannot do as it is blocked on the RCU sync.
This results in a hang of the freezer process and 100% CPU usage by the
quota process.
While this can occur intermittently on multi-core systems, it is
reliably reproducing on a node with the following script, running both
the freezer and the quota toggle on the same CPU:
# mkfs.ext4 -O quota /dev/sda 2g && mkdir a_mount
# mount /dev/sda -o quota,usrquota,grpquota a_mount
# taskset -c 3 bash -c "while true; do xfs_freeze -f a_mount; \
xfs_freeze -u a_mount; done" &
# taskset -c 3 bash -c "while true; do quotaon a_mount; \
quotaoff a_mount; done" &
Adding cond_resched() to the retry loop fixes the issue. It acts as an
RCU quiescent state, allowing synchronize_rcu() in percpu_down_write()
to complete.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 6.5 | 6.6.128 |
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 | 6.18.14-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 6.12.85-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Nvidia-BlueField 24.04 LTS | linux-bluefield | 6.8.0-1026.30 | — |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-vmware | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 25.10 | linux +8 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux | 6.8.0-134.134 | USN-8492-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-aws | 6.8.0-1060.63 | USN-8492-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-azure | 6.8.0-1063.71 | USN-8606-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde | 6.8.0-1062.69 | USN-8607-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-azure-nvidia | 6.8.0-1039.42 | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 6.8.0-1063.69 | USN-8492-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gke | 6.8.0-1058.64 | USN-8492-2 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gkeop | 6.8.0-1045.48 | USN-8492-2 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-ibm | 6.8.0-1060.61 | USN-8492-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency | 6.8.0-134.134.1 | USN-8497-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia | 6.8.0-1058.61 | USN-8492-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-lowlatency | 6.8.0-1058.61.1 | USN-8492-2 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | 6.8.0-1029.30 | USN-8498-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 6.8.0-1057.58 | USN-8492-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-raspi | 6.8.0-1060.64 | USN-8492-4 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-riscv +26 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-xilinx | 6.8.0-1032.33 | USN-8499-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-aws-6.8 | 6.8.0-1060.63~22.04.1 | USN-8492-2 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure-6.8 | 6.8.0-1063.71~22.04.1 | USN-8606-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.8 | 6.8.0-1062.69~22.04.1 | USN-8609-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gcp-6.8 | 6.8.0-1063.69~22.04.1 | USN-8492-2 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-136.136~22.04.1 | USN-8619-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-ibm-6.8 | 6.8.0-1060.61~22.04.1 | USN-8492-2 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-134.134.1~22.04.1 | USN-8497-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-6.8 | 6.8.0-1058.61~22.04.1 | USN-8492-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-oracle-6.8 | 6.8.0-1057.58~22.04.1 | USN-8492-2 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +32 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv-6.8 | 6.8.0-134.134~22.04.1 | — |
Show 6 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +28 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +14 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe-edge | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-raspi-realtime | 6.8.0-2049.50 | USN-8492-3 |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-realtime | 6.8.1-1055.56 | USN-8492-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-realtime-6.14 +1 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS | linux-realtime-6.8 | 6.8.1-1055.56~22.04.1 | USN-8492-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-aws-fips | 6.8.0-1060.63+fips1 | USN-8492-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-azure-fips | 6.8.0-1062.69+fips1 | USN-8492-5 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-fips | 6.8.0-134.134+fips1 | USN-8492-5 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-gcp-fips | 6.8.0-1063.69+fips1 | USN-8492-1 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 16.0 | kernel-64kb +8 | 6.12.0-160000.37.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:23231-1, SUSE-SU-2026:23221-1 |
| SLES for SAP 16.0 | kernel-default-base | 6.12.0-160000.37.1.160000.2.19 | SUSE-SU-2026:23231-1, SUSE-SU-2026:23221-1 |
| SLES 16.0 | kernel-64kb +8 | 6.12.0-160000.37.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:23237-1, SUSE-SU-2026:23231-1, SUSE-SU-2026:23221-1 |
| SLES 16.0 | kernel-default-base | 6.12.0-160000.37.1.160000.2.19 | SUSE-SU-2026:23231-1, SUSE-SU-2026:23221-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.2 | kernel-default-base | 6.12.0-160000.37.1.160000.2.19 | SUSE-SU-2026:23068-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.2 | kernel-rt +5 | 6.12.0-160000.37.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:23068-1, SUSE-SU-2026:23066-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Leap 16.0 | kernel-default-base | 6.12.0-160000.37.1.160000.2.19 | openSUSE-SU-2026:21555-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 16.0 | kernel-rt +11 | 6.12.0-160000.37.1 | openSUSE-SU-2026:21555-1 |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2023 | kernel-livepatch-6.12.77-99.140 +1 | 1:1.0-0.amzn2023 | ALAS2023-2026-1543, ALAS2023-2026-1514 |
| Amazon Linux 2023 | perf6.12 +14 | 1:6.12.77-99.140.amzn2023 | ALAS2023-2026-1543 |
| Amazon Linux 2023 | perf6.18 +14 | 1:6.18.15-14.217.amzn2023 | ALAS2023-2026-1514 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 9 | kernel-uek +34 | 6.12.0-204.92.4.2.el10uek | ELSA-2026-50372 |
Advisories 22
- WID-SEC-2026-1700 Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Nov 11, 2026
- USN-8606-1 linux-azure, linux-azure-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 7, 2026
- USN-8607-1 linux-azure-fde vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 7, 2026
- USN-8619-1 linux-hwe-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 7, 2026
- USN-8609-1 linux-azure-fde-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 7, 2026
- USN-8499-1 linux-xilinx vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 7, 2026
- USN-8497-1 linux-lowlatency, linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 7, 2026
- USN-8492-1 linux, linux-aws, linux-aws-fips, linux-gcp, linux-gcp-fips, linux-ibm, linux-nvidia, linux-nvidia-6.8, linux-oracle, linux-realtime, linux-realtime-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 6, 2026
- USN-8492-2 linux-aws-6.8, linux-gcp-6.8, linux-gke, linux-gkeop, linux-ibm-6.8, linux-nvidia-lowlatency, linux-oracle-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 6, 2026
- USN-8498-1 linux-nvidia-tegra vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 6, 2026
- USN-8492-3 linux-raspi-realtime vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 6, 2026
- USN-8492-5 linux-azure-fips, linux-fips vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 6, 2026
- USN-8492-4 linux-raspi vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 6, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:23231-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Aug 27, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:23237-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Aug 27, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:23221-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Aug 27, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:23066-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Aug 15, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:23068-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Aug 15, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2026:21555-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Aug 12, 2026
- ELSA-2026-50372 Important: Unbreakable Enterprise kernel security update (Oracle Linux 9) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Jul 2, 2026
- ALAS2023-2026-1514 Important: kernel6.18 security update (Amazon Linux 2023) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Jun 16, 2026
- ALAS2023-2026-1543 Important: kernel6.12 security update (Amazon Linux 2023) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Jun 16, 2026
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/37ccd48cf35f3c8b9f2ea961a7b486b91eb71a82
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/414259caf81a397563fc9baca9c0ef856c4a97cf
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/02bb1500f1479750e6557c8044f6a2d7e9d30c12
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/53b2314b26b6640a3657cc924de63a1a8f26ac4d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/77449e453dfc006ad738dec55374c4cbc056fd39