CVE-2026-23374
Received Received - Intake
Use-After-Free in Linux Kernel blktrace Causes Kernel BUG

Publication date: 2026-03-25

Last updated on: 2026-04-27

Assigner: kernel.org

Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: blktrace: fix __this_cpu_read/write in preemptible context tracing_record_cmdline() internally uses __this_cpu_read() and __this_cpu_write() on the per-CPU variable trace_cmdline_save, and trace_save_cmdline() explicitly asserts preemption is disabled via lockdep_assert_preemption_disabled(). These operations are only safe when preemption is off, as they were designed to be called from the scheduler context (probe_wakeup_sched_switch() / probe_wakeup()). __blk_add_trace() was calling tracing_record_cmdline(current) early in the blk_tracer path, before ring buffer reservation, from process context where preemption is fully enabled. This triggers the following using blktests/blktrace/002: blktrace/002 (blktrace ftrace corruption with sysfs trace) [failed] runtime 0.367s ... 0.437s something found in dmesg: [ 81.211018] run blktests blktrace/002 at 2026-02-25 22:24:33 [ 81.239580] null_blk: disk nullb1 created [ 81.357294] BUG: using __this_cpu_read() in preemptible [00000000] code: dd/2516 [ 81.362842] caller is tracing_record_cmdline+0x10/0x40 [ 81.362872] CPU: 16 UID: 0 PID: 2516 Comm: dd Tainted: G N 7.0.0-rc1lblk+ #84 PREEMPT(full) [ 81.362877] Tainted: [N]=TEST [ 81.362878] Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS rel-1.17.0-0-gb52ca86e094d-prebuilt.qemu.org 04/01/2014 [ 81.362881] Call Trace: [ 81.362884] <TASK> [ 81.362886] dump_stack_lvl+0x8d/0xb0 ... (See '/mnt/sda/blktests/results/nodev/blktrace/002.dmesg' for the entire message) [ 81.211018] run blktests blktrace/002 at 2026-02-25 22:24:33 [ 81.239580] null_blk: disk nullb1 created [ 81.357294] BUG: using __this_cpu_read() in preemptible [00000000] code: dd/2516 [ 81.362842] caller is tracing_record_cmdline+0x10/0x40 [ 81.362872] CPU: 16 UID: 0 PID: 2516 Comm: dd Tainted: G N 7.0.0-rc1lblk+ #84 PREEMPT(full) [ 81.362877] Tainted: [N]=TEST [ 81.362878] Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS rel-1.17.0-0-gb52ca86e094d-prebuilt.qemu.org 04/01/2014 [ 81.362881] Call Trace: [ 81.362884] <TASK> [ 81.362886] dump_stack_lvl+0x8d/0xb0 [ 81.362895] check_preemption_disabled+0xce/0xe0 [ 81.362902] tracing_record_cmdline+0x10/0x40 [ 81.362923] __blk_add_trace+0x307/0x5d0 [ 81.362934] ? lock_acquire+0xe0/0x300 [ 81.362940] ? iov_iter_extract_pages+0x101/0xa30 [ 81.362959] blk_add_trace_bio+0x106/0x1e0 [ 81.362968] submit_bio_noacct_nocheck+0x24b/0x3a0 [ 81.362979] ? lockdep_init_map_type+0x58/0x260 [ 81.362988] submit_bio_wait+0x56/0x90 [ 81.363009] __blkdev_direct_IO_simple+0x16c/0x250 [ 81.363026] ? __pfx_submit_bio_wait_endio+0x10/0x10 [ 81.363038] ? rcu_read_lock_any_held+0x73/0xa0 [ 81.363051] blkdev_read_iter+0xc1/0x140 [ 81.363059] vfs_read+0x20b/0x330 [ 81.363083] ksys_read+0x67/0xe0 [ 81.363090] do_syscall_64+0xbf/0xf00 [ 81.363102] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e [ 81.363106] RIP: 0033:0x7f281906029d [ 81.363111] Code: 31 c0 e9 c6 fe ff ff 50 48 8d 3d 66 63 0a 00 e8 59 ff 01 00 66 0f 1f 84 00 00 00 00 00 80 3d 41 33 0e 00 00 74 17 31 c0 0f 05 <48> 3d 00 f0 ff ff 77 5b c3 66 2e 0f 1f 84 00 00 00 00 00 48 83 ec [ 81.363113] RSP: 002b:00007ffca127dd48 EFLAGS: 00000246 ORIG_RAX: 0000000000000000 [ 81.363120] RAX: ffffffffffffffda RBX: 0000000000000000 RCX: 00007f281906029d [ 81.363122] RDX: 0000000000001000 RSI: 0000559f8bfae000 RDI: 0000000000000000 [ 81.363123] RBP: 0000000000001000 R08: 0000002863a10a81 R09: 00007f281915f000 [ 81.363124] R10: 00007f2818f77b60 R11: 0000000000000246 R12: 0000559f8bfae000 [ 81.363126] R13: 0000000000000000 R14: 0000000000000000 R15: 000000000000000a [ 81.363142] </TASK> The same BUG fires from blk_add_trace_plug(), blk_add_trace_unplug(), and blk_add_trace_rq() paths as well. The purpose of tracin ---truncated---
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
Probability:
Percentile:
Meta Information
Published
2026-03-25
Last Modified
2026-04-27
Generated
2026-05-07
AI Q&A
2026-03-25
EPSS Evaluated
2026-05-05
NVD
EUVD
Affected Vendors & Products
Showing 10 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
linux linux_kernel 3.8
linux linux_kernel 7.0
linux linux_kernel 7.0
linux linux_kernel 7.0
linux linux_kernel 7.0
linux linux_kernel 7.0
linux linux_kernel 7.0
linux linux_kernel 7.0
linux linux_kernel From 3.8.1 (inc) to 6.12.82 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 6.13 (inc) to 6.19.7 (exc)
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
CWE
CWE Icon
KEV
KEV Icon
CWE ID Description
CWE-UNKNOWN
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
How can this vulnerability impact me? :

This vulnerability can cause kernel crashes or instability due to improper handling of per-CPU variables in a preemptible context. It may lead to system errors or failures when running certain block tracing operations, potentially affecting system reliability and performance.


Can you explain this vulnerability to me?

This vulnerability in the Linux kernel involves improper use of per-CPU variable access functions (__this_cpu_read and __this_cpu_write) in a preemptible context. Specifically, the function tracing_record_cmdline() uses these functions on a per-CPU variable trace_cmdline_save, which is only safe when preemption is disabled. However, __blk_add_trace() was calling tracing_record_cmdline() from process context where preemption is enabled, leading to a BUG triggered by unsafe access to per-CPU variables.

This bug manifests as a runtime error when running blktrace tests, causing kernel warnings and potential instability due to accessing CPU-specific data without disabling preemption as required.


How can this vulnerability be detected on my network or system? Can you suggest some commands?

This vulnerability can be detected by observing kernel logs (dmesg) for specific BUG messages related to the improper use of __this_cpu_read() in preemptible code contexts.

Look for messages similar to: "BUG: using __this_cpu_read() in preemptible code" along with call traces involving tracing_record_cmdline and blk_add_trace functions.

Running the blktrace test blktrace/002 can reproduce the issue, which fails with the described BUG message.

  • Use the command: dmesg | grep '__this_cpu_read() in preemptible'
  • Run blktrace tests, specifically blktrace/002, to check for failure and related kernel BUG messages.

What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?

The vulnerability is fixed by correcting the use of __this_cpu_read/write in preemptible contexts within the Linux kernel.

Immediate mitigation involves updating the Linux kernel to a version where this fix is applied, as the issue arises from kernel code paths that improperly enable preemption.

Until the kernel is updated, avoid running workloads or tests that trigger the blk_add_trace paths, such as blktrace/002, to reduce the risk of encountering this BUG.


Ask Our AI Assistant
Need more information? Ask your question to get an AI reply (Powered by our expertise)
0/70
EPSS Chart