CVE-2026-99058: workqueue: Fix NULL current_pwq deref in chained work check

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: 2026-10-23 · updated 2026-10-30

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: workqueue: Fix NULL current_pwq deref in chained work check current_wq_worker() only tells us that %current is a kworker. It does not guarantee that the worker is currently executing a work item, as worker->current_pwq is populated only while process_one_work() is running the work function. is_chained_work() can be reached while queueing on a draining or destroying workqueue. If a kworker outside work-item execution reaches that path, current_wq_worker() returns a worker but worker->current_pwq is NULL, and the chained-work test can fault before it emits the intended warning. Guard the chained-work test with worker->current_pwq. A kworker without current_pwq is not executing work on the target workqueue, so the helper should return false and let the draining/destroying warning fire.

Affected products

Linux: 3.9 — fixed in 7.3

How to fix

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

References

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