CVE-2026-80920: io_uring: defer eventfd signaling when queued from a wakeup handler

Severity: unknown
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 0.2% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2026-09-09 · updated 2026-10-21

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: io_uring: defer eventfd signaling when queued from a wakeup handler io_req_local_work_add() signals the CQ ring eventfd inline when it is the one to push the first entry onto ->work_list. For DEFER_TASKRUN rings that add is frequently done from a waitqueue wakeup handler, where an arbitrary waitqueue lock is held. eventfd_signal_mask() only refuses to recurse when current->in_eventfd is set, but that bit is set by eventfd_signal_mask() itself. If the wake chain starts somewhere else, signal goes out inline and can feed back into epoll. Add IOU_F_TWQ_IN_WAKE, set it on the task_work add done from the three waitqueue callbacks, and use it to force io_eventfd_signal() down the existing call_rcu_hurry() deferral instead of signaling inline.

Affected products

Linux kernel: 6.1 — fixed in 7.3

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Linux kernel 7.3. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

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