Linux Kernel up to 7.3.0 io-wq io_wq_exit_start race condition

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6.2	$0-$5k	2.60

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.3.0. It has been classified as critical. The impacted element is the function io_wq_exit_start of the component io-wq. Performing a manipulation results in race condition. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2026-99243. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. There is no exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.3.0. This affects the function io_wq_exit_start of the component io-wq. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a race condition vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as 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. This is going to have an impact on availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: io-wq: order the exit bit against worker creation task work io_wq_exit_workers() cancels task work for queued worker creation with task_work_cancel_match(). That has a plain load of task->task_works. io_queue_worker_create() adds the new entry and tests IO_WQ_BIT_EXIT to cancel it if the workqueue is already on its way out. That must be ordered. task_work_add() has a full barrier via cmpxchg(). But io_wq_exit_start() sets the bit with set_bit() which doesn't have any memory ordering. So afaict, on weakly ordered architectures the exiting task may load task_works before the store of the bit is visible. The other side tests the bit before the store is visible as well. So the entry remains queued with worker_refs and the exiting task waits on worker_done indefinitely. If the task still has rings then io_uring_del_tctx_node() provides the barrier via test_and_set_bit() in io_wq_set_exit_on_idle(). When it has closed all rings though that barrier is gone. Add the barrier after the set_bit().

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-99243 since 09/25/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to initiate the attack 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 11/03/2026).

Upgrading to version 5.15.224, 6.1.191, 6.6.161, 6.12.115, 6.18.60, 7.2.14 or 7.3.1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 67da3eec264aeb67835886720243ae2dc1463315/a63c752157eacf49f628359822666b32503d194a/1432d881d99584105122760133caeff1dce7a9f7/6cf012a4d5e461c788ecc9dbed67adc31a142644/0d81cdd433b0a96c5275c01b8172e0b1f71dd595/75395db7a9b40a2e826c838e648fef8ed1a2d174/31fc780b75b278d37700373d54a99fdb4117fdd6 is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

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Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.15.223
• 6.1.190
• 6.6.160
• 6.12.114
• 6.18.0
• 6.18.1
• 6.18.2
• 6.18.3
• 6.18.4
• 6.18.5
• 6.18.6
• 6.18.7
• 6.18.8
• 6.18.9
• 6.18.10
• 6.18.11
• 6.18.12
• 6.18.13
• 6.18.14
• 6.18.15
• 6.18.16
• 6.18.17
• 6.18.18
• 6.18.19
• 6.18.20
• 6.18.21
• 6.18.22
• 6.18.23
• 6.18.24
• 6.18.25
• 6.18.26
• 6.18.27
• 6.18.28
• 6.18.29
• 6.18.30
• 6.18.31
• 6.18.32
• 6.18.33
• 6.18.34
• 6.18.35
• 6.18.36
• 6.18.37
• 6.18.38
• 6.18.39
• 6.18.40
• 6.18.41
• 6.18.42
• 6.18.43
• 6.18.44
• 6.18.45
• 6.18.46
• 6.18.47
• 6.18.48
• 6.18.49
• 6.18.50
• 6.18.51
• 6.18.52
• 6.18.53
• 6.18.54
• 6.18.55
• 6.18.56
• 6.18.57
• 6.18.58
• 6.18.59
• 7.0
• 7.1
• 7.2
• 7.2.0
• 7.2.1
• 7.2.2
• 7.2.3
• 7.2.4
• 7.2.5
• 7.2.6
• 7.2.7
• 7.2.8
• 7.2.9
• 7.2.10
• 7.2.11
• 7.2.12
• 7.2.13
• 7.3.0

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.2

VulDB Base Score: 6.5
VulDB Temp Score: 6.2
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Race condition
CWE: CWE-362
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.15.224/6.1.191/6.6.161/6.12.115/6.18.60/7.2.14/7.3.1
Patch: 67da3eec264aeb67835886720243ae2dc1463315/a63c752157eacf49f628359822666b32503d194a/1432d881d99584105122760133caeff1dce7a9f7/6cf012a4d5e461c788ecc9dbed67adc31a142644/0d81cdd433b0a96c5275c01b8172e0b1f71dd595/75395db7a9b40a2e826c838e648fef8ed1a2d174/31fc780b75b278d37700373d54a99fdb4117fdd6

Timelineinfo

09/25/2026 CVE reserved
11/03/2026 +39 days Advisory disclosed
11/03/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
11/03/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CNA: Linux
CVE: CVE-2026-99243 (🔒)

GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-99243
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-430239

Entryinfo

Created: 11/03/2026 12:44
Changes: 11/03/2026 12:44 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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Discussion

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