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

nfsd: hold rcu across localio cmpxchg retry

nfsd_file objects are freed via call_rcu (filecache.c:296), and
nfsd_file_slab is created without SLAB_TYPESAFE_BY_RCU
(KMEM_CACHE(nfsd_file, 0) at filecache.c:789), so the slab page
backing a freed nfsd_file becomes freely reclaimable once the RCU
grace period elapses.

The again: retry block in nfsd_open_local_fh() loads a pointer with
cmpxchg and then calls nfsd_file_get(new) (which is
refcount_inc_not_zero) without holding rcu_read_lock. The sole caller
nfs_open_local_fh() drops rcu_read_lock before invoking this helper,
so no outer reader-side critical section covers the load.

CPU 0 (nfsd_open_local_fh) CPU 1 (nfsd_file_put_local)
----- -----
new = cmpxchg(pnf, NULL, ...)
nf = xchg(pnf, NULL)
nfsd_file_put(nf)
last ref -> call_rcu()
/* grace period elapses;
slab page recycled */
nfsd_file_get(new)
refcount_inc_not_zero(&new->nf_ref)
/* operates on recycled memory */

A non-zero word at the nf_ref offset of the recycled object makes the
refcount bump appear to succeed, and the caller then dereferences
new->nf_net and new->nf_file out of freed memory.

Fix by taking rcu_read_lock() immediately before the cmpxchg and
releasing it on all three exits of the if (new) block: the goto-again
retry, the lost-race cleanup path, and the install-succeeded path.
nfsd_file_put() and nfsd_net_put() stay outside the RCU section so
they remain free to block.
Published: 2026-09-11
Score: 7.5 High
EPSS: n/a
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

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Remediation

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History

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-825
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

threat_severity

Important


Fri, 11 Sep 2026 23:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nfsd: hold rcu across localio cmpxchg retry nfsd_file objects are freed via call_rcu (filecache.c:296), and nfsd_file_slab is created without SLAB_TYPESAFE_BY_RCU (KMEM_CACHE(nfsd_file, 0) at filecache.c:789), so the slab page backing a freed nfsd_file becomes freely reclaimable once the RCU grace period elapses. The again: retry block in nfsd_open_local_fh() loads a pointer with cmpxchg and then calls nfsd_file_get(new) (which is refcount_inc_not_zero) without holding rcu_read_lock. The sole caller nfs_open_local_fh() drops rcu_read_lock before invoking this helper, so no outer reader-side critical section covers the load. CPU 0 (nfsd_open_local_fh) CPU 1 (nfsd_file_put_local) ----- ----- new = cmpxchg(pnf, NULL, ...) nf = xchg(pnf, NULL) nfsd_file_put(nf) last ref -> call_rcu() /* grace period elapses; slab page recycled */ nfsd_file_get(new) refcount_inc_not_zero(&new->nf_ref) /* operates on recycled memory */ A non-zero word at the nf_ref offset of the recycled object makes the refcount bump appear to succeed, and the caller then dereferences new->nf_net and new->nf_file out of freed memory. Fix by taking rcu_read_lock() immediately before the cmpxchg and releasing it on all three exits of the if (new) block: the goto-again retry, the lost-race cleanup path, and the install-succeeded path. nfsd_file_put() and nfsd_net_put() stay outside the RCU section so they remain free to block.
Title nfsd: hold rcu across localio cmpxchg retry
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

Subscriptions

Linux Linux Kernel
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-09-11T19:45:55.846Z

Reserved: 2026-09-11T19:38:34.746Z

Link: CVE-2026-89670

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-09-11T20:19:53.517

Modified: 2026-09-11T20:19:53.517

Link: CVE-2026-89670

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Important

Publid Date: 2026-09-11T19:45:55Z

Links: CVE-2026-89670 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.

Weaknesses
  • CWE-825

    Expired Pointer Dereference