Vulnerability Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: rcu: Fix rcu_read_unlock() deadloop due to IRQ work During rcu_read_unlock_special(), if this happens during irq_exit(), we can lockup if an IPI is issued. This is because the IPI itself triggers the irq_exit() path causing a recursive lock up. This is precisely what Xiongfeng found when invoking a BPF program on the trace_tick_stop() tracepoint As shown in the trace below. Fix by managing the irq_work state correctly. irq_exit() __irq_exit_rcu() /* in_hardirq() returns false after this */ preempt_count_sub(HARDIRQ_OFFSET) tick_irq_exit() tick_nohz_irq_exit() tick_nohz_stop_sched_tick() trace_tick_stop() /* a bpf prog is hooked on this trace point */ __bpf_trace_tick_stop() bpf_trace_run2() rcu_read_unlock_special() /* will send a IPI to itself */ irq_work_queue_on(&rdp->defer_qs_iw, rdp->cpu); A simple reproducer can also be obtained by doing the following in tick_irq_exit(). It will hang on boot without the patch: static inline void tick_irq_exit(void) { + rcu_read_lock(); + WRITE_ONCE(current->rcu_read_unlock_special.b.need_qs, true); + rcu_read_unlock(); + [neeraj: Apply Frederic's suggested fix for PREEMPT_RT]
CVSS Score
HIGH
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux Kernel | < 6.6.103 |
Related Weaknesses (CWE)
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1cfa244f7198d325594e627574930b7b91df5bfePatch
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/56c5ef194f4509df63fc0f7a91ea5973ce479b1ePatch
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b41642c87716bbd09797b1e4ea7d904f06c39b7bPatch
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ddebb2a7677673cf4438a04e1a48b8ed6b0c8e9aPatch
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e7a375453cca2b8a0d2fa1b82b913f3fed7c0507Patch
FAQ
What is CVE-2025-39744?
CVE-2025-39744 is a vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.1 (HIGH). In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: rcu: Fix rcu_read_unlock() deadloop due to IRQ work During rcu_read_unlock_special(), if this happens during irq_exit(), we can lo...
How severe is CVE-2025-39744?
CVE-2025-39744 has been rated HIGH with a CVSS base score of 7.1/10. Review the CVSS metrics above for detailed severity breakdown.
Is there a patch for CVE-2025-39744?
Check the references section above for vendor advisories and patch information. Affected products include: Linux Linux Kernel.