Linux Kernel up to 6.16.8 cgroup cgroup_lock_and_drain_offline allocation of resources

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CTI Interest Score
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4.0$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.16.8 and classified as critical. Affected is the function cgroup_lock_and_drain_offline of the component cgroup. The manipulation leads to allocation of resources. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2025-39953. There is no exploit available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.16.8 and classified as problematic. This issue affects the function cgroup_lock_and_drain_offline of the component cgroup. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a allocation of resources vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-770. The product allocates a reusable resource or group of resources on behalf of an actor without imposing any restrictions on the size or number of resources that can be allocated, in violation of the intended security policy for that actor. Impacted is availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: cgroup: split cgroup_destroy_wq into 3 workqueues A hung task can occur during [1] LTP cgroup testing when repeatedly mounting/unmounting perf_event and net_prio controllers with systemd.unified_cgroup_hierarchy=1. The hang manifests in cgroup_lock_and_drain_offline() during root destruction. Related case: cgroup_fj_function_perf_event cgroup_fj_function.sh perf_event cgroup_fj_function_net_prio cgroup_fj_function.sh net_prio Call Trace: cgroup_lock_and_drain_offline+0x14c/0x1e8 cgroup_destroy_root+0x3c/0x2c0 css_free_rwork_fn+0x248/0x338 process_one_work+0x16c/0x3b8 worker_thread+0x22c/0x3b0 kthread+0xec/0x100 ret_from_fork+0x10/0x20 Root Cause: CPU0 CPU1 mount perf_event umount net_prio cgroup1_get_tree cgroup_kill_sb rebind_subsystems // root destruction enqueues // cgroup_destroy_wq // kill all perf_event css // one perf_event css A is dying // css A offline enqueues cgroup_destroy_wq // root destruction will be executed first css_free_rwork_fn cgroup_destroy_root cgroup_lock_and_drain_offline // some perf descendants are dying // cgroup_destroy_wq max_active = 1 // waiting for css A to die Problem scenario: 1. CPU0 mounts perf_event (rebind_subsystems) 2. CPU1 unmounts net_prio (cgroup_kill_sb), queuing root destruction work 3. A dying perf_event CSS gets queued for offline after root destruction 4. Root destruction waits for offline completion, but offline work is blocked behind root destruction in cgroup_destroy_wq (max_active=1) Solution: Split cgroup_destroy_wq into three dedicated workqueues: cgroup_offline_wq – Handles CSS offline operations cgroup_release_wq – Manages resource release cgroup_free_wq – Performs final memory deallocation This separation eliminates blocking in the CSS free path while waiting for offline operations to complete. [1] https://github.com/linux-test-project/ltp/blob/master/runtest/controllers

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2025-39953 since 04/16/2025. The exploitation is known to be difficult. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 274816 (Debian dsa-6053 : affs-modules-6.1.0-37-4kc-malta-di - security update), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.4.300, 5.10.245, 5.15.194, 6.1.154, 6.6.108, 6.12.49 or 6.16.9 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch cabadd7fd15f97090f752fd22dd7f876a0dc3dc4/a0c896bda7077aa5005473e2c5b3c27173313b4c/f2795d1b92506e3adf52a298f7181032a1525e04/993049c9b1355c78918344a6403427d53f9ee700/4a1e3ec28e8062cd9f339aa6a942df9c5bcb6811/ded4d207a3209a834b6831ceec7f39b934c74802/05e0b03447cf215ec384210441b34b7a3b16e8b0/79f919a89c9d06816dbdbbd168fa41d27411a7f9 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 (274816) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2194). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Affected

  • Google Container-Optimized OS
  • Debian Linux
  • Google Cloud Platform
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • SUSE openSUSE
  • Open Source Linux Kernel
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • IBM QRadar SIEM

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.0

VulDB Base Score: 2.6
VulDB Temp Score: 2.5
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Allocation of resources
CWE: CWE-770 / CWE-400 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 274816
Nessus Name: Debian dsa-6053 : affs-modules-6.1.0-37-4kc-malta-di - security update

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.4.300/5.10.245/5.15.194/6.1.154/6.6.108/6.12.49/6.16.9
Patch: cabadd7fd15f97090f752fd22dd7f876a0dc3dc4/a0c896bda7077aa5005473e2c5b3c27173313b4c/f2795d1b92506e3adf52a298f7181032a1525e04/993049c9b1355c78918344a6403427d53f9ee700/4a1e3ec28e8062cd9f339aa6a942df9c5bcb6811/ded4d207a3209a834b6831ceec7f39b934c74802/05e0b03447cf215ec384210441b34b7a3b16e8b0/79f919a89c9d06816dbdbbd168fa41d27411a7f9

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
10/04/2025 +171 days Advisory disclosed
10/04/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
01/24/2026 +112 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-39953 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-39953
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-327029
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2194 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 10/04/2025 11:32
Updated: 01/24/2026 11:14
Changes: 10/04/2025 11:32 (59), 11/12/2025 08:13 (2), 11/24/2025 02:54 (7), 12/27/2025 02:11 (1), 01/24/2026 11:14 (11)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

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