CVE-2026-23168

About vulnerability

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 make sure write section of the sequence counter is irqsafe. A deadlock vulnerability was found in the Linux kernel’s flexible proportions (fprop) code used for I/O writeback accounting. When a hardirq interrupts the seqcount write section in fprop_new_period() during softirq context, a reader in the hardirq handler can spin indefinitely waiting for the odd sequence number to become even, causing a system hang.

Live-patch status from KernelCare for each operating system.