Linux Kernel up to 6.6.102/6.12.43/6.16.3/6.17-rc2 module_frob_arch_sections deadlock

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.102/6.12.43/6.16.3/6.17-rc2 and classified as critical. This affects the function module_frob_arch_sections. This manipulation causes deadlock. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2025-39767. There is no available exploit. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.102/6.12.43/6.16.3/6.17-rc2. It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function module_frob_arch_sections. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a deadlock vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-833. The product contains multiple threads or executable segments that are waiting for each other to release a necessary lock, resulting in deadlock. As an impact it is known to affect availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: LoongArch: Optimize module load time by optimizing PLT/GOT counting When enabling CONFIG_KASAN, CONFIG_PREEMPT_VOLUNTARY_BUILD and CONFIG_PREEMPT_VOLUNTARY at the same time, there will be soft deadlock, the relevant logs are as follows: rcu: INFO: rcu_sched self-detected stall on CPU ... Call Trace: [<900000000024f9e4>] show_stack+0x5c/0x180 [<90000000002482f4>] dump_stack_lvl+0x94/0xbc [<9000000000224544>] rcu_dump_cpu_stacks+0x1fc/0x280 [<900000000037ac80>] rcu_sched_clock_irq+0x720/0xf88 [<9000000000396c34>] update_process_times+0xb4/0x150 [<90000000003b2474>] tick_nohz_handler+0xf4/0x250 [<9000000000397e28>] __hrtimer_run_queues+0x1d0/0x428 [<9000000000399b2c>] hrtimer_interrupt+0x214/0x538 [<9000000000253634>] constant_timer_interrupt+0x64/0x80 [<9000000000349938>] __handle_irq_event_percpu+0x78/0x1a0 [<9000000000349a78>] handle_irq_event_percpu+0x18/0x88 [<9000000000354c00>] handle_percpu_irq+0x90/0xf0 [<9000000000348c74>] handle_irq_desc+0x94/0xb8 [<9000000001012b28>] handle_cpu_irq+0x68/0xa0 [<9000000001def8c0>] handle_loongarch_irq+0x30/0x48 [<9000000001def958>] do_vint+0x80/0xd0 [<9000000000268a0c>] kasan_mem_to_shadow.part.0+0x2c/0x2a0 [<90000000006344f4>] __asan_load8+0x4c/0x120 [<900000000025c0d0>] module_frob_arch_sections+0x5c8/0x6b8 [<90000000003895f0>] load_module+0x9e0/0x2958 [<900000000038b770>] __do_sys_init_module+0x208/0x2d0 [<9000000001df0c34>] do_syscall+0x94/0x190 [<900000000024d6fc>] handle_syscall+0xbc/0x158 After analysis, this is because the slow speed of loading the amdgpu module leads to the long time occupation of the cpu and then the soft deadlock. When loading a module, module_frob_arch_sections() tries to figure out the number of PLTs/GOTs that will be needed to handle all the RELAs. It will call the count_max_entries() to find in an out-of-order date which counting algorithm has O(n^2) complexity. To make it faster, we sort the relocation list by info and addend. That way, to check for a duplicate relocation, it just needs to compare with the previous entry. This reduces the complexity of the algorithm to O(n log n), as done in commit d4e0340919fb ("arm64/module: Optimize module load time by optimizing PLT counting"). This gives sinificant reduction in module load time for modules with large number of relocations. After applying this patch, the soft deadlock problem has been solved, and the kernel starts normally without "Call Trace". Using the default configuration to test some modules, the results are as follows: Module Size ip_tables 36K fat 143K radeon 2.5MB amdgpu 16MB Without this patch: Module Module load time (ms) Count(PLTs/GOTs) ip_tables 18 59/6 fat 0 162/14 radeon 54 1221/84 amdgpu 1411 4525/1098 With this patch: Module Module load time (ms) Count(PLTs/GOTs) ip_tables 18 59/6 fat 0 162/14 radeon 22 1221/84 amdgpu 45 4525/1098

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-39767 since 04/16/2025. The exploitation appears to be difficult. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 264756 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-39767), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.6.103, 6.12.44, 6.16.4 or 6.17-rc3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying a patch 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 (264756) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2040). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Google Container-Optimized OS
• Debian Linux
• Google Cloud Platform
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Fedora Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• SUSE openSUSE
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• Proxmox Virtual Environment
• Proxmox Backup Server
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway
• IBM QRadar SIEM

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.6.102
• 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
• 6.12.24
• 6.12.25
• 6.12.26
• 6.12.27
• 6.12.28
• 6.12.29
• 6.12.30
• 6.12.31
• 6.12.32
• 6.12.33
• 6.12.34
• 6.12.35
• 6.12.36
• 6.12.37
• 6.12.38
• 6.12.39
• 6.12.40
• 6.12.41
• 6.12.42
• 6.12.43
• 6.16.0
• 6.16.1
• 6.16.2
• 6.16.3
• 6.17-rc1
• 6.17-rc2

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

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Entryinfo

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