Linux Kernel up to 6.17.11 sched_ext deferred_irq_workfn initialization

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.17.11. Impacted is the function deferred_irq_workfn of the component sched_ext. Performing a manipulation results in initialization. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2025-68333. There is no exploit available. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.17.11. It has been classified as critical. This affects the function deferred_irq_workfn of the component sched_ext. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a initialization vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-665. The product does not initialize or incorrectly initializes a resource, which might leave the resource in an unexpected state when it is accessed or used. This is going to have an impact on availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sched_ext: Fix possible deadlock in the deferred_irq_workfn() For PREEMPT_RT=y kernels, the deferred_irq_workfn() is executed in the per-cpu irq_work/* task context and not disable-irq, if the rq returned by container_of() is current CPU's rq, the following scenarios may occur: lock(&rq->__lock); <Interrupt> lock(&rq->__lock); This commit use IRQ_WORK_INIT_HARD() to replace init_irq_work() to initialize rq->scx.deferred_irq_work, make the deferred_irq_workfn() is always invoked in hard-irq context.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2025-68333 since 12/16/2025. The exploitability is told to be difficult. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 279569 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-68333), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.17.12 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 600b4379b9a7ba41340d652211fb29699da4c629/a257e974210320ede524f340ffe16bf4bf0dda1e 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 (279569) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2914). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Affected

• Open Source Linux Kernel

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.17.0
• 6.17.1
• 6.17.2
• 6.17.3
• 6.17.4
• 6.17.5
• 6.17.6
• 6.17.7
• 6.17.8
• 6.17.9
• 6.17.10
• 6.17.11

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

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Entryinfo

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