CVE-2026-64425: io_uring/io-wq: re-check IO_WQ_BIT_EXIT for each linked work item

Severity: medium (CVSS 5.5 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 0.1% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2026-07-25 · updated 2026-10-15

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: io_uring/io-wq: re-check IO_WQ_BIT_EXIT for each linked work item commit 10dc95939817 ("io_uring/io-wq: check IO_WQ_BIT_EXIT inside work run loop") fixed the obvious case where io_worker_handle_work() took one exit-bit snapshot before draining pending work, but the fix stops one level too early. io_worker_handle_work() now re-checks IO_WQ_BIT_EXIT in its outer work run loop, yet it still snapshots that bit once before processing a whole dependent linked-work chain. If io_wq_exit_start() sets IO_WQ_BIT_EXIT after the first linked item has started, the remaining linked items can still reuse stale do_kill = false, skip IO_WQ_WORK_CANCEL, and continue running after exit has begun. Move the check further inside, so it covers linked items too. Note: this is a syzbot special as it loves setting up tons of slow linked work on weird devices like msr that take forever to read, and immediately close the ring. Exit then takes a long time.

Affected products

Linux kernel: from 5.10.253 before 5.10.261; from 5.15.203 before 5.15.212; from 6.1.167 before 6.1.178; from 6.6.122 before 6.6.145; from 6.12.68 before 6.12.96; from 6.18.8 before 6.18.39 — fixed in 5.10.261, 5.15.212, 6.1.178, 6.12.96, 6.18.39, 6.6.145

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Linux kernel 5.10.261, 5.15.212, 6.1.178, 6.12.96. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

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