In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
dpll: fix possible deadlock during netlink dump operation
Recently, I've been hitting following deadlock warning during dpll pin dump:
[52804.637962] ====================================================== [52804.638536] WARNING: possible circular locking dependency detected [52804.639111] 6.8.0-rc2jiri+ #1 Not tainted [52804.639529] ------------------------------------------------------ [52804.640104] python3/2984 is trying to acquire lock: [52804.640581] ffff88810e642678 (nlk_cb_mutex-GENERIC){+.+.}-{3:3}, at: netlink_dump+0xb3/0x780 [52804.641417] but task is already holding lock: [52804.642010] ffffffff83bde4c8 (dpll_lock){+.+.}-{3:3}, at: dpll_lock_dumpit+0x13/0x20 [52804.642747] which lock already depends on the new lock.
[52804.643551] the existing dependency chain (in reverse order) is: [52804.644259] -> #1 (dpll_lock){+.+.}-{3:3}: [52804.644836] lock_acquire+0x174/0x3e0 [52804.645271] __mutex_lock+0x119/0x1150 [52804.645723] dpll_lock_dumpit+0x13/0x20 [52804.646169] genl_start+0x266/0x320 [52804.646578] __netlink_dump_start+0x321/0x450 [52804.647056] genl_family_rcv_msg_dumpit+0x155/0x1e0 [52804.647575] genl_rcv_msg+0x1ed/0x3b0 [52804.648001] netlink_rcv_skb+0xdc/0x210 [52804.648440] genl_rcv+0x24/0x40 [52804.648831] netlink_unicast+0x2f1/0x490 [52804.649290] netlink_sendmsg+0x36d/0x660 [52804.649742] __sock_sendmsg+0x73/0xc0 [52804.650165] __sys_sendto+0x184/0x210 [52804.650597] __x64_sys_sendto+0x72/0x80 [52804.651045] do_syscall_64+0x6f/0x140 [52804.651474] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x46/0x4e [52804.652001] -> #0 (nlk_cb_mutex-GENERIC){+.+.}-{3:3}: [52804.652650] check_prev_add+0x1ae/0x1280 [52804.653107] __lock_acquire+0x1ed3/0x29a0 [52804.653559] lock_acquire+0x174/0x3e0 [52804.653984] __mutex_lock+0x119/0x1150 [52804.654423] netlink_dump+0xb3/0x780 [52804.654845] __netlink_dump_start+0x389/0x450 [52804.655321] genl_family_rcv_msg_dumpit+0x155/0x1e0 [52804.655842] genl_rcv_msg+0x1ed/0x3b0 [52804.656272] netlink_rcv_skb+0xdc/0x210 [52804.656721] genl_rcv+0x24/0x40 [52804.657119] netlink_unicast+0x2f1/0x490 [52804.657570] netlink_sendmsg+0x36d/0x660 [52804.658022] __sock_sendmsg+0x73/0xc0 [52804.658450] __sys_sendto+0x184/0x210 [52804.658877] __x64_sys_sendto+0x72/0x80 [52804.659322] do_syscall_64+0x6f/0x140 [52804.659752] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x46/0x4e [52804.660281] other info that might help us debug this:
[52804.661077] Possible unsafe locking scenario:
[52804.661671] CPU0 CPU1 [52804.662129] ---- ---- [52804.662577] lock(dpll_lock); [52804.662924] lock(nlk_cb_mutex-GENERIC); [52804.663538] lock(dpll_lock); [52804.664073] lock(nlk_cb_mutex-GENERIC); [52804.664490]
The issue as follows: __netlink_dump_start() calls control->start(cb) with nlk->cb_mutex held. In control->start(cb) the dpll_lock is taken. Then nlk->cb_mutex is released and taken again in netlink_dump(), while dpll_lock still being held. That leads to ABBA deadlock when another CPU races with the same operation.
Fix this by moving dpll_lock taking into dumpit() callback which ensures correct lock taking order.
CVSS Details
- CVSS 3.1 Base Score: 5.5
- CVSS 3.1 Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H)
Covered by Rapid7
| Product | Vendor Advisory | Solution File | Added | Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debian | — | Upgrade linux | Jul 27, 2026 | Jul 27, 2026 |
| Redhat_linux | — | Upgrade kernel-rtUpgrade kernelNo solution exists | Dec 5, 2024 | Apr 3, 2024 |
| Suse | — | Upgrade kernel-default-vdsoUpgrade kernel-macrosUpgrade kernel-symsUpgrade kernel-sourceUpgrade kernel-default-extraUpgrade kernel-64kb-extraUpgrade kernel-64kb-develUpgrade kernel-syms-azureUpgrade kernel-azure-develUpgrade kernel-develUpgrade kernel-docsUpgrade kernel-devel-azureUpgrade kernel-defaultUpgrade kernel-obs-qaUpgrade kernel-obs-buildUpgrade kernel-source-azureUpgrade kernel-default-livepatchUpgrade kernel-zfcpdumpUpgrade kernel-kvmsmall-develUpgrade kernel-docs-htmlUpgrade kernel-azure-vdsoUpgrade kernel-azure-extraUpgrade kernel-source-vanillaUpgrade kernel-azureUpgrade kernel-kvmsmall-vdsoUpgrade reiserfs-kmp-defaultUpgrade kernel-64kbUpgrade kernel-kvmsmallUpgrade kernel-default-devel | Dec 5, 2025 | Dec 5, 2025 |
| Ubuntu | — | Upgrade linux-raspi-realtimeUpgrade linux-bluefield | Feb 11, 2025 | Apr 3, 2024 |
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