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

net: nfc: fix deadlock between nfc_unregister_device and rfkill_fop_write

A deadlock can occur between nfc_unregister_device() and rfkill_fop_write()
due to lock ordering inversion between device_lock and rfkill_global_mutex.

The problematic lock order is:

Thread A (rfkill_fop_write):
rfkill_fop_write()
mutex_lock(&rfkill_global_mutex)
rfkill_set_block()
nfc_rfkill_set_block()
nfc_dev_down()
device_lock(&dev->dev) <- waits for device_lock

Thread B (nfc_unregister_device):
nfc_unregister_device()
device_lock(&dev->dev)
rfkill_unregister()
mutex_lock(&rfkill_global_mutex) <- waits for rfkill_global_mutex

This creates a classic ABBA deadlock scenario.

Fix this by moving rfkill_unregister() and rfkill_destroy() outside the
device_lock critical section. Store the rfkill pointer in a local variable
before releasing the lock, then call rfkill_unregister() after releasing
device_lock.

This change is safe because rfkill_fop_write() holds rfkill_global_mutex
while calling the rfkill callbacks, and rfkill_unregister() also acquires
rfkill_global_mutex before cleanup. Therefore, rfkill_unregister() will
wait for any ongoing callback to complete before proceeding, and
device_del() is only called after rfkill_unregister() returns, preventing
any use-after-free.

The similar lock ordering in nfc_register_device() (device_lock ->
rfkill_global_mutex via rfkill_register) is safe because during
registration the device is not yet in rfkill_list, so no concurrent
rfkill operations can occur on this device.

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Advisories
Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4475-1 linux security update
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4476-1 linux-6.1 security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6126-1 linux security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6127-1 linux security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8096-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8096-2 Linux kernel (FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8096-3 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8096-4 Linux kernel (Real-time) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8096-5 Linux kernel (NVIDIA Tegra IGX) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8116-1 Linux kernel (Intel IoTG Real-time) vulnerabilities
Fixes

Solution

No solution given by the vendor.


Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

History

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 19:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-667
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.16:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc8:*:*:*:*:*:*
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}


Mon, 19 Jan 2026 12:45:00 +0000


Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:15:00 +0000


Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: nfc: fix deadlock between nfc_unregister_device and rfkill_fop_write A deadlock can occur between nfc_unregister_device() and rfkill_fop_write() due to lock ordering inversion between device_lock and rfkill_global_mutex. The problematic lock order is: Thread A (rfkill_fop_write): rfkill_fop_write() mutex_lock(&rfkill_global_mutex) rfkill_set_block() nfc_rfkill_set_block() nfc_dev_down() device_lock(&dev->dev) <- waits for device_lock Thread B (nfc_unregister_device): nfc_unregister_device() device_lock(&dev->dev) rfkill_unregister() mutex_lock(&rfkill_global_mutex) <- waits for rfkill_global_mutex This creates a classic ABBA deadlock scenario. Fix this by moving rfkill_unregister() and rfkill_destroy() outside the device_lock critical section. Store the rfkill pointer in a local variable before releasing the lock, then call rfkill_unregister() after releasing device_lock. This change is safe because rfkill_fop_write() holds rfkill_global_mutex while calling the rfkill callbacks, and rfkill_unregister() also acquires rfkill_global_mutex before cleanup. Therefore, rfkill_unregister() will wait for any ongoing callback to complete before proceeding, and device_del() is only called after rfkill_unregister() returns, preventing any use-after-free. The similar lock ordering in nfc_register_device() (device_lock -> rfkill_global_mutex via rfkill_register) is safe because during registration the device is not yet in rfkill_list, so no concurrent rfkill operations can occur on this device.
Title net: nfc: fix deadlock between nfc_unregister_device and rfkill_fop_write
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-02-09T08:34:30.426Z

Reserved: 2026-01-13T15:30:19.648Z

Link: CVE-2025-71079

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Analyzed

Published: 2026-01-13T16:16:07.433

Modified: 2026-03-25T19:44:18.643

Link: CVE-2025-71079

cve-icon Redhat

Severity :

Publid Date: 2026-01-13T00:00:00Z

Links: CVE-2025-71079 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.

Weaknesses