CVE-2025-68780
Unknown Unknown - Not Provided
BaseFortify

Publication date: 2026-01-13

Last updated on: 2026-01-19

Assigner: kernel.org

Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sched/deadline: only set free_cpus for online runqueues Commit 16b269436b72 ("sched/deadline: Modify cpudl::free_cpus to reflect rd->online") introduced the cpudl_set/clear_freecpu functions to allow the cpu_dl::free_cpus mask to be manipulated by the deadline scheduler class rq_on/offline callbacks so the mask would also reflect this state. Commit 9659e1eeee28 ("sched/deadline: Remove cpu_active_mask from cpudl_find()") removed the check of the cpu_active_mask to save some processing on the premise that the cpudl::free_cpus mask already reflected the runqueue online state. Unfortunately, there are cases where it is possible for the cpudl_clear function to set the free_cpus bit for a CPU when the deadline runqueue is offline. When this occurs while a CPU is connected to the default root domain the flag may retain the bad state after the CPU has been unplugged. Later, a different CPU that is transitioning through the default root domain may push a deadline task to the powered down CPU when cpudl_find sees its free_cpus bit is set. If this happens the task will not have the opportunity to run. One example is outlined here: https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/[email protected] Another occurs when the last deadline task is migrated from a CPU that has an offlined runqueue. The dequeue_task member of the deadline scheduler class will eventually call cpudl_clear and set the free_cpus bit for the CPU. This commit modifies the cpudl_clear function to be aware of the online state of the deadline runqueue so that the free_cpus mask can be updated appropriately. It is no longer necessary to manage the mask outside of the cpudl_set/clear functions so the cpudl_set/clear_freecpu functions are removed. In addition, since the free_cpus mask is now only updated under the cpudl lock the code was changed to use the non-atomic __cpumask functions.
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Meta Information
Published
2026-01-13
Last Modified
2026-01-19
Generated
2026-05-07
AI Q&A
2026-01-14
EPSS Evaluated
2026-05-05
NVD
CVE-2025-68780
Affected Vendors & Products
Showing 1 associated CPE
Vendor Product Version / Range
linux linux_kernel *
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
CWE
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CWE ID Description
CWE-UNKNOWN
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?

This vulnerability in the Linux kernel's deadline scheduler involves incorrect handling of the free_cpus mask for CPUs that are offline. Specifically, the cpudl_clear function can mistakenly set the free_cpus bit for a CPU even when its deadline runqueue is offline. This can cause the scheduler to believe that a powered-down CPU is available to run tasks, leading to tasks being assigned to CPUs that cannot execute them. As a result, those tasks will not run as expected.


How can this vulnerability impact me? :

The impact of this vulnerability is that tasks scheduled by the deadline scheduler may be assigned to CPUs that are offline or powered down, causing those tasks to never run. This can lead to missed deadlines and degraded system performance or reliability, especially in real-time or deadline-sensitive environments.


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