Linux Kernel up to 7.2.3 sched_ext process_deferred_reenq_users ID race condition

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2.3. It has been classified as critical. This vulnerability affects the function process_deferred_reenq_users of the component sched_ext. The manipulation of the argument ID leads to race condition. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2026-89516. The attack can be initiated remotely. There is not any exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2.3. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects the function process_deferred_reenq_users of the component sched_ext. The manipulation of the argument id with an unknown input leads to a race condition vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-362. The product contains a code sequence that can run concurrently with other code, and the code sequence requires temporary, exclusive access to a shared resource, but a timing window exists in which the shared resource can be modified by another code sequence that is operating concurrently. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sched_ext: Don't BUG_ON a destroyed DSQ in process_deferred_reenq_users scx_bpf_dsq_reenq() queues a deferred reenq (dru) that runs from run_deferred(), not ops.dispatch(). If the DSQ is destroyed before the dru runs, process_deferred_reenq_users() sees dsq->id == SCX_DSQ_INVALID and hits the BUG_ON. destroy_dsq() doesn't flush pending drus, so just skip. tj: Read dsq->id once with READ_ONCE(). Reading it separately in the INVALID check and the BUG_ON would leave a window where destroy_dsq() can invalidate the id between the two reads and still trigger the BUG_ON.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-89516 since 09/11/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be initiated remotely. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 09/12/2026).

Upgrading to version 7.2.4 or 7.3-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch c480961a1e790b46ffd8c20c4b6754d65ec6572d/8d8dd8ae89eaa78b37fc85528e926029f5facbdf is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 7.2.0
• 7.2.1
• 7.2.2
• 7.2.3

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Discussion