Linux Kernel up to 6.6.121/6.12.66/6.18.6/6.19-rc4 btrfs wait_current_trans btrfs_blocked_trans_types deadlock

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.121/6.12.66/6.18.6/6.19-rc4. Affected by this vulnerability is the function wait_current_trans of the component btrfs. Performing a manipulation of the argument btrfs_blocked_trans_types results in deadlock. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2025-71194. There is no exploit available. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.121/6.12.66/6.18.6/6.19-rc4. This affects the function wait_current_trans of the component btrfs. The manipulation of the argument btrfs_blocked_trans_types with an unknown input leads to a deadlock vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-833. The product contains multiple threads or executable segments that are waiting for each other to release a necessary lock, resulting in deadlock. This is going to have an impact on availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: fix deadlock in wait_current_trans() due to ignored transaction type When wait_current_trans() is called during start_transaction(), it currently waits for a blocked transaction without considering whether the given transaction type actually needs to wait for that particular transaction state. The btrfs_blocked_trans_types[] array already defines which transaction types should wait for which transaction states, but this check was missing in wait_current_trans(). This can lead to a deadlock scenario involving two transactions and pending ordered extents: 1. Transaction A is in TRANS_STATE_COMMIT_DOING state 2. A worker processing an ordered extent calls start_transaction() with TRANS_JOIN 3. join_transaction() returns -EBUSY because Transaction A is in TRANS_STATE_COMMIT_DOING 4. Transaction A moves to TRANS_STATE_UNBLOCKED and completes 5. A new Transaction B is created (TRANS_STATE_RUNNING) 6. The ordered extent from step 2 is added to Transaction B's pending ordered extents 7. Transaction B immediately starts commit by another task and enters TRANS_STATE_COMMIT_START 8. The worker finally reaches wait_current_trans(), sees Transaction B in TRANS_STATE_COMMIT_START (a blocked state), and waits unconditionally 9. However, TRANS_JOIN should NOT wait for TRANS_STATE_COMMIT_START according to btrfs_blocked_trans_types[] 10. Transaction B is waiting for pending ordered extents to complete 11. Deadlock: Transaction B waits for ordered extent, ordered extent waits for Transaction B This can be illustrated by the following call stacks: CPU0 CPU1 btrfs_finish_ordered_io() start_transaction(TRANS_JOIN) join_transaction() # -EBUSY (Transaction A is # TRANS_STATE_COMMIT_DOING) # Transaction A completes # Transaction B created # ordered extent added to # Transaction B's pending list btrfs_commit_transaction() # Transaction B enters # TRANS_STATE_COMMIT_START # waiting for pending ordered # extents wait_current_trans() # waits for Transaction B # (should not wait!) Task bstore_kv_sync in btrfs_commit_transaction waiting for ordered extents: __schedule+0x2e7/0x8a0 schedule+0x64/0xe0 btrfs_commit_transaction+0xbf7/0xda0 [btrfs] btrfs_sync_file+0x342/0x4d0 [btrfs] __x64_sys_fdatasync+0x4b/0x80 do_syscall_64+0x33/0x40 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x44/0xa9 Task kworker in wait_current_trans waiting for transaction commit: Workqueue: btrfs-syno_nocow btrfs_work_helper [btrfs] __schedule+0x2e7/0x8a0 schedule+0x64/0xe0 wait_current_trans+0xb0/0x110 [btrfs] start_transaction+0x346/0x5b0 [btrfs] btrfs_finish_ordered_io.isra.0+0x49b/0x9c0 [btrfs] btrfs_work_helper+0xe8/0x350 [btrfs] process_one_work+0x1d3/0x3c0 worker_thread+0x4d/0x3e0 kthread+0x12d/0x150 ret_from_fork+0x1f/0x30 Fix this by passing the transaction type to wait_current_trans() and checking btrfs_blocked_trans_types[cur_trans->state] against the given type before deciding to wait. This ensures that transaction types which are allowed to join during certain blocked states will not unnecessarily wait and cause deadlocks.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2025-71194 since 01/31/2026. 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 297918 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-71194), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.6.122, 6.12.67, 6.18.7 or 6.19-rc5 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 99da896614d17e8a84aeb2b2d464ac046cc8633d/8b0bb145d3bc264360f525c9717653be3522e528/9ac63333d600732a56b35ee1fa46836da671eb50/5037b342825df7094a4906d1e2a9674baab50cb2 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 (297918) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2026-0324). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Affected

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

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.6.121
• 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
• 6.12.44
• 6.12.45
• 6.12.46
• 6.12.47
• 6.12.48
• 6.12.49
• 6.12.50
• 6.12.51
• 6.12.52
• 6.12.53
• 6.12.54
• 6.12.55
• 6.12.56
• 6.12.57
• 6.12.58
• 6.12.59
• 6.12.60
• 6.12.61
• 6.12.62
• 6.12.63
• 6.12.64
• 6.12.65
• 6.12.66
• 6.18.0
• 6.18.1
• 6.18.2
• 6.18.3
• 6.18.4
• 6.18.5
• 6.18.6
• 6.19-rc1
• 6.19-rc2
• 6.19-rc3
• 6.19-rc4

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

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Entryinfo

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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