CVE-2026-23342 — linux / linux_kernel
Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
bpf: Fix race in cpumap on PREEMPT_RT
On PREEMPT_RT kernels, the per-CPU xdp_bulk_queue (bq) can be accessed concurrently by multiple preemptible tasks on the same CPU.
The original code assumes bq_enqueue() and __cpu_map_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_flush_to_queue(), 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:
-
Double __list_del_clearprev(): after bq->count is reset in bq_flush_to_queue(), a preempting task can call bq_enqueue() -> bq_flush_to_queue() on the same bq when bq->count reaches CPU_MAP_BULK_SIZE. Both tasks then call __list_del_clearprev() on the same bq->flush_node, the second call dereferences the prev pointer that was already set to NULL by the first.
-
bq->count and bq->q[] races: concurrent bq_enqueue() can corrupt the packet queue while bq_flush_to_queue() is processing it.
The race between task A (__cpu_map_flush -> bq_flush_to_queue) and task B (bq_enqueue -> bq_flush_to_queue) on the same CPU:
Task A (xdp_do_flush) Task B (cpu_map_enqueue)
bq_flush_to_queue(bq) spin_lock(&q->producer_lock) /* flush bq->q[] to ptr_ring / bq->count = 0 spin_unlock(&q->producer_lock) bq_enqueue(rcpu, xdpf) <-- CFS preempts Task A --> bq->q[bq->count++] = xdpf / ... more enqueues until full ... / bq_flush_to_queue(bq) spin_lock(&q->producer_lock) / flush to ptr_ring / spin_unlock(&q->producer_lock) __list_del_clearprev(flush_node) / sets flush_node.prev = NULL / <-- Task A resumes --> __list_del_clearprev(flush_node) flush_node.prev->next = ... / prev is NULL -> kernel oops */
Fix this by adding a local_lock_t to xdp_bulk_queue and acquiring it in bq_enqueue() and __cpu_map_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.
To reproduce, insert an mdelay(100) between bq->count = 0 and __list_del_clearprev() in bq_flush_to_queue(), then run reproducer provided by syzkaller.
| Software | From | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| linux / linux_kernel | 6.18.1 | 6.18.17 |
| linux / linux_kernel | 6.19 | 6.19.7 |
| linux / linux_kernel | 6.18 | 6.18.x |
| linux / linux_kernel | 7.0-rc1 | 7.0-rc1.x |
| linux / linux_kernel | 7.0-rc2 | 7.0-rc2.x |
| linux / linux_kernel | 7.0-rc3 | 7.0-rc3.x |
| linux / linux_kernel | 7.0-rc4 | 7.0-rc4.x |
| linux / linux_kernel | 7.0-rc5 | 7.0-rc5.x |
| linux / linux_kernel | 7.0-rc6 | 7.0-rc6.x |
| linux / linux_kernel | 7.0-rc7 | 7.0-rc7.x |
Deep Security Visibility Without the Complexity
SynScan provides clear, real-time security insights so you can monitor your attack surface, spot risks early, and act fast—without extra complexity.
- No setup fees
- 5-min deployment
- Cancel anytime
Frequently Asked Questions
A security vulnerability is a weakness in software, hardware, or configuration that can be exploited to compromise confidentiality, integrity, or availability. Many vulnerabilities are tracked as CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures), which provide a standardized identifier so teams can coordinate patching, mitigation, and risk assessment across tools and vendors.
CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) estimates technical severity, but it doesn't automatically equal business risk. Prioritize using context like internet exposure, affected asset criticality, known exploitation (proof-of-concept or in-the-wild), and whether compensating controls exist. A "Medium" CVSS on an exposed, production system can be more urgent than a "Critical" on an isolated, non-production host.
A vulnerability is the underlying weakness. An exploit is the method or code used to take advantage of it. A zero-day is a vulnerability that is unknown to the vendor or has no publicly available fix when attackers begin using it. In practice, risk increases sharply when exploitation becomes reliable or widespread.
Recurring findings usually come from incomplete Asset Discovery, inconsistent patch management, inherited images, and configuration drift. In modern environments, you also need to watch the software supply chain: dependencies, containers, build pipelines, and third-party services can reintroduce the same weakness even after you patch a single host. Unknown or unmanaged assets (often called Shadow IT) are a common reason the same issues resurface.
Use a simple, repeatable triage model: focus first on externally exposed assets, high-value systems (identity, VPN, email, production), vulnerabilities with known exploits, and issues that enable remote code execution or privilege escalation. Then enforce patch SLAs and track progress using consistent metrics so remediation is steady, not reactive.
SynScan combines attack surface monitoring and continuous security auditing to keep your inventory current, flag high-impact vulnerabilities early, and help you turn raw findings into a practical remediation plan.