Linux: Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization
CVE-2026-23294 is a high-severity concurrent execution using shared resource with improper synchronization vulnerability in Linux, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.0 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 6c10b019785dc282c5f45d21e4a3f468b8fd6476, ab1a56c9d99189aa5c6e03940d06e40ba6a28240, 1872e75375c40add4a35990de3be77b5741c252c as the first without the flaw, so updating Linux to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.1% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Linux to 6c10b019785dc282c5f45d21e4a3f468b8fd6476 or ab1a56c9d99189aa5c6e03940d06e40ba6a28240 or 1872e75375c40add4a35990de3be77b5741c252c, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Linux Kernel to 6.18.17 or 6.19.7, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 3253cb49cbad4772389d6ef55be75db1f97da910 up to, but not including, 6c10b019785dc282c5f45d21e4a3f468b8fd6476; 3253cb49cbad4772389d6ef55be75db1f97da910 up to, but not including, ab1a56c9d99189aa5c6e03940d06e40ba6a28240; 3253cb49cbad4772389d6ef55be75db1f97da910 up to, but not including, 1872e75375c40add4a35990de3be77b5741c252c; 6.18 | 6c10b019785dc282c5f45d21e4a3f468b8fd6476, ab1a56c9d99189aa5c6e03940d06e40ba6a28240, 1872e75375c40add4a35990de3be77b5741c252c |
| Linux | Linux Kernel | 6.18 up to, but not including, 6.18.17; 6.19 up to, but not including, 6.19.7; 7.0 | 6.18.17, 6.19.7 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- HighSuccess depends on conditions outside the attacker's control.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf: Fix race in devmap on PREEMPT_RT On PREEMPT_RT kernels, the per-CPU xdp_dev_bulk_queue (bq) can be accessed concurrently by multiple preemptible tasks on the same CPU. The original code assumes bq_enqueue() and __dev_flush() run atomically with respect to each other on the same CPU, relying on local_bh_disable() to prevent preemption. However, on PREEMPT_RT, local_bh_disable() only calls migrate_disable() (when PREEMPT_RT_NEEDS_BH_LOCK is not set) and does not disable preemption, which allows CFS scheduling to preempt a task during bq_xmit_all(), enabling another task on the same CPU to enter bq_enqueue() and operate on the same per-CPU bq concurrently. This leads to several races: 1. Double-free / use-after-free on bq->q[]: bq_xmit_all() snapshots cnt = bq->count, then iterates bq->q[0..cnt-1] to transmit frames. If preempted after the snapshot, a second task can call bq_enqueue() -> bq_xmit_all() on the same bq, transmitting (and freeing) the same frames. When the first task resumes, it operates on stale pointers in bq->q[], causing use-after-free. 2. bq->count and bq->q[] corruption: concurrent bq_enqueue() modifying bq->count and bq->q[] while bq_xmit_all() is reading them. 3. dev_rx/xdp_prog teardown race: __dev_flush() clears bq->dev_rx and bq->xdp_prog after bq_xmit_all(). If preempted between bq_xmit_all() return and bq->dev_rx = NULL, a preempting bq_enqueue() sees dev_rx still set (non-NULL), skips adding bq to the flush_list, and enqueues a frame. When __dev_flush() resumes, it clears dev_rx and removes bq from the flush_list, orphaning the newly enqueued frame. 4. __list_del_clearprev() on flush_node: similar to the cpumap race, both tasks can call __list_del_clearprev() on the same flush_node, the second dereferences the prev pointer already set to NULL. The race between task A (__dev_flush -> bq_xmit_all) and task B (bq_enqueue -> bq_xmit_all) on the same CPU: Task A (xdp_do_flush) Task B (ndo_xdp_xmit redirect) ---------------------- -------------------------------- __dev_flush(flush_list) bq_xmit_all(bq) cnt = bq->count /* e.g. 16 */ /* start iterating bq->q[] */ <-- CFS preempts Task A --> bq_enqueue(dev, xdpf) bq->count == DEV_MAP_BULK_SIZE bq_xmit_all(bq, 0) cnt = bq->count /* same 16! */ ndo_xdp_xmit(bq->q[]) /* frames freed by driver */ bq->count = 0 <-- Task A resumes --> ndo_xdp_xmit(bq->q[]) /* use-after-free: frames already freed! */ Fix this by adding a local_lock_t to xdp_dev_bulk_queue and acquiring it in bq_enqueue() and __dev_flush(). These paths already run under local_bh_disable(), so use local_lock_nested_bh() which on non-RT is a pure annotation with no overhead, and on PREEMPT_RT provides a per-CPU sleeping lock that serializes access to the bq.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization
The product contains a concurrent code sequence that requires temporary, exclusive access to a shared resource, but a timing window exists in which the shared resource can be modified by another code sequence operating concurrently.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- In languages that support it, use synchronization primitives. Only wrap these around critical code to minimize the impact on performance.
- Use thread-safe capabilities such as the data access abstraction in Spring.
- Minimize the usage of shared resources in order to remove as much complexity as possible from the control flow and to reduce the likelihood of unexpected conditions occurring. Additionally, this will minimize the amount of synchronization necessary and may even help to reduce the likelihood of a denial of service where an attacker may be able to repeatedly trigger a critical section (CWE-400).
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
Recent Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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