CVE-2026-23168

Technical Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

flex_proportions: make fprop_new_period() hardirq safe

Bernd has reported a lockdep splat from flexible proportions code that is

essentially complaining about the following race:

<timer fires>

run_timer_softirq - we are in softirq context

call_timer_fn

writeout_period

fprop_new_period

write_seqcount_begin(&p->sequence);

<hardirq is raised>

...

blk_mq_end_request()

blk_update_request()

ext4_end_bio()

folio_end_writeback()

__wb_writeout_add()

__fprop_add_percpu_max()

if (unlikely(max_frac < FPROP_FRAC_BASE)) {

fprop_fraction_percpu()

seq = read_seqcount_begin(&p->sequence);

- sees odd sequence so loops indefinitely

Note that a deadlock like this is only possible if the bdi has configured

maximum fraction of writeout throughput which is very rare in general but

frequent for example for FUSE bdis. To fix this problem we have to mak

Remediation

Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from linux. Update linux_kernel to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.

Affected Products

References