Linux Kernel up to 6.14.2 spinlock_rt.c write locking

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as problematic has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.134/6.6.87/6.12.23/6.13.11/6.14.2. This vulnerability affects the function vmd_dev::cfg_lock/pci_ops::write of the file kernel/locking/spinlock_rt.c. Such manipulation leads to an unknown weakness. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2025-23161. There is no available exploit. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.134/6.6.87/6.12.23/6.13.11/6.14.2. Affected by this issue is the function vmd_dev::cfg_lock/pci_ops::write of the file kernel/locking/spinlock_rt.c. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-667. The product does not properly acquire or release a lock on a resource, leading to unexpected resource state changes and behaviors. The impact remains unknown. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: PCI: vmd: Make vmd_dev::cfg_lock a raw_spinlock_t type The access to the PCI config space via pci_ops::read and pci_ops::write is a low-level hardware access. The functions can be accessed with disabled interrupts even on PREEMPT_RT. The pci_lock is a raw_spinlock_t for this purpose. A spinlock_t becomes a sleeping lock on PREEMPT_RT, so it cannot be acquired with disabled interrupts. The vmd_dev::cfg_lock is accessed in the same context as the pci_lock. Make vmd_dev::cfg_lock a raw_spinlock_t type so it can be used with interrupts disabled. This was reported as: BUG: sleeping function called from invalid context at kernel/locking/spinlock_rt.c:48 Call Trace: rt_spin_lock+0x4e/0x130 vmd_pci_read+0x8d/0x100 [vmd] pci_user_read_config_byte+0x6f/0xe0 pci_read_config+0xfe/0x290 sysfs_kf_bin_read+0x68/0x90 [bigeasy: reword commit message] Tested-off-by: Luis Claudio R. Goncalves <[email protected]> [kwilczynski: commit log] [bhelgaas: add back report info from https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/[email protected]/]

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2025-23161 since 01/11/2025. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 237504 (Debian dla-4193 : linux-config-6.1 - security update), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.1.135, 6.6.88, 6.12.24, 6.13.12, 6.14.3 or 6.15-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch c2968c812339593ac6e2bdd5cc3adabe3f05fa53/13e5148f70e81991acbe0bab5b1b50ba699116e7/5c3cfcf0b4bf43530788b08a8eaf7896ec567484/2358046ead696ca5c7c628d6c0e2c6792619a3e5/20d0a9062c031068fa39f725a32f182b709b5525/18056a48669a040bef491e63b25896561ee14d90 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (237504) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-0922). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Affected

• Google Container-Optimized OS
• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• SUSE openSUSE
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Dell Avamar
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• IBM DataPower Gateway
• Dell NetWorker
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.1.134
• 6.6.0
• 6.6.1
• 6.6.2
• 6.6.3
• 6.6.4
• 6.6.5
• 6.6.6
• 6.6.7
• 6.6.8
• 6.6.9
• 6.6.10
• 6.6.11
• 6.6.12
• 6.6.13
• 6.6.14
• 6.6.15
• 6.6.16
• 6.6.17
• 6.6.18
• 6.6.19
• 6.6.20
• 6.6.21
• 6.6.22
• 6.6.23
• 6.6.24
• 6.6.25
• 6.6.26
• 6.6.27
• 6.6.28
• 6.6.29
• 6.6.30
• 6.6.31
• 6.6.32
• 6.6.33
• 6.6.34
• 6.6.35
• 6.6.36
• 6.6.37
• 6.6.38
• 6.6.39
• 6.6.40
• 6.6.41
• 6.6.42
• 6.6.43
• 6.6.44
• 6.6.45
• 6.6.46
• 6.6.47
• 6.6.48
• 6.6.49
• 6.6.50
• 6.6.51
• 6.6.52
• 6.6.53
• 6.6.54
• 6.6.55
• 6.6.56
• 6.6.57
• 6.6.58
• 6.6.59
• 6.6.60
• 6.6.61
• 6.6.62
• 6.6.63
• 6.6.64
• 6.6.65
• 6.6.66
• 6.6.67
• 6.6.68
• 6.6.69
• 6.6.70
• 6.6.71
• 6.6.72
• 6.6.73
• 6.6.74
• 6.6.75
• 6.6.76
• 6.6.77
• 6.6.78
• 6.6.79
• 6.6.80
• 6.6.81
• 6.6.82
• 6.6.83
• 6.6.84
• 6.6.85
• 6.6.86
• 6.6.87
• 6.12.0
• 6.12.1
• 6.12.2
• 6.12.3
• 6.12.4
• 6.12.5
• 6.12.6
• 6.12.7
• 6.12.8
• 6.12.9
• 6.12.10
• 6.12.11
• 6.12.12
• 6.12.13
• 6.12.14
• 6.12.15
• 6.12.16
• 6.12.17
• 6.12.18
• 6.12.19
• 6.12.20
• 6.12.21
• 6.12.22
• 6.12.23
• 6.13.0
• 6.13.1
• 6.13.2
• 6.13.3
• 6.13.4
• 6.13.5
• 6.13.6
• 6.13.7
• 6.13.8
• 6.13.9
• 6.13.10
• 6.13.11
• 6.14.0
• 6.14.1
• 6.14.2

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Exploitinginfo

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Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

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