CVE-2026-98094
Received Received - Intake

Race Condition in Linux Kernel FBTFT Subsystem

Vulnerability report for CVE-2026-98094, including description, CVSS score, EPSS score, affected products, exploitability, helpful resources, and attack-flow context.

Publication date: 2026-09-25

Last updated on: 2026-09-25

Assigner: kernel.org

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: staging: fbtft: make dirty_lock IRQ-safe fbtft_mkdirty() can be reached from the fbcon rendering path while processing printk() in hardirq context. Meanwhile, dirty_lock is also taken by fbtft_deferred_io() in workqueue context with local interrupts enabled. Lockdep reports a possible IRQ lock inversion involving dirty_lock and console_owner. A hardirq can interrupt a CPU holding dirty_lock and enter the console rendering path, which can attempt to acquire dirty_lock again. The following lockdep report was observed on an RK3566 system with CONFIG_PROVE_LOCKING enabled: WARNING: possible irq lock inversion dependency detected swapper/2/0 just changed the state of lock: (console_owner){-...}-{0:0} but this lock took another, HARDIRQ-unsafe lock in the past: (&par->dirty_lock){+.+.}-{2:2} CPU0 CPU1 ---- ---- lock(&par->dirty_lock); local_irq_disable(); lock(console_owner); lock(&par->dirty_lock); <Interrupt> lock(console_owner); *** DEADLOCK *** Use spin_lock_irqsave() for fbtft_mkdirty() and spin_lock_irq() for fbtft_deferred_io(). They only access the dirty line range, so the IRQ-off regions remain short.

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Meta Information

Published
2026-09-25
Last Modified
2026-09-25
Generated
2026-09-25
AI Q&A
2026-09-25
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
EUVD

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 1 associated CPE
Vendor Product Version / Range
linux_kernel fbtft *

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

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CWE ID Description
CWE-UNKNOWN

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Executive Summary

This vulnerability in the Linux kernel involves a potential deadlock in the fbtft framebuffer driver. The issue occurs because dirty_lock can be taken in both hardirq context (via fbtft_mkdirty) and workqueue context (via fbtft_deferred_io) with interrupts enabled. This creates a risk of IRQ lock inversion where a hardirq could interrupt a CPU holding dirty_lock and attempt to reacquire it, leading to a deadlock scenario involving console_owner.

Detection Guidance

This vulnerability is specific to the Linux kernel's fbtft subsystem and may trigger a lockdep warning if CONFIG_PROVE_LOCKING is enabled. Check kernel logs for lockdep warnings involving dirty_lock and console_owner. No direct network detection commands are applicable.

Impact Analysis

This vulnerability could cause system hangs or crashes if the deadlock condition is triggered. Systems using the fbtft framebuffer driver, particularly on RK3566 hardware, may experience unresponsiveness or require a reboot to recover. It primarily affects systems with CONFIG_PROVE_LOCKING enabled that use this specific driver.

Mitigation Strategies

Apply the kernel patch that replaces spin_lock() with spin_lock_irqsave() in fbtft_mkdirty() and spin_lock_irq() in fbtft_deferred_io(). Update to a kernel version containing this fix. Reboot the system after applying the patch.

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