CVE-2026-43121

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: io_uring/zcrx: fix user_ref race between scrub and refill paths The io_zcrx_put_niov_uref() function uses a non-atomic check-then-decrement pattern (atomic_read followed by separate atomic_dec) to manipulate user_refs. This is serialized against other callers by rq_lock, but io_zcrx_scrub() modifies the same counter with atomic_xchg() WITHOUT holding rq_lock. On SMP systems, the following race exists: CPU0 (refill, holds rq_lock) CPU1 (scrub, no rq_lock) put_niov_uref: atomic_read(uref) - 1 // window opens atomic_xchg(uref, 0) - 1 return_niov_freelist(niov) [PUSH #1] // window closes atomic_dec(uref) - wraps to -1 returns true return_niov(niov) return_niov_freelist(niov) [PUSH #2: DOUBLE-FREE] The same niov is pushed to the freelist twice, causing free_count to exceed nr_iovs. Subsequent freelist pushes then perform an out-of-bounds write (a u32 value) past the kvmalloc'd freelist array into the adjacent slab object. Fix this by replacing the non-atomic read-then-dec in io_zcrx_put_niov_uref() with an atomic_try_cmpxchg loop that atomically tests and decrements user_refs. This makes the operation safe against concurrent atomic_xchg from scrub without requiring scrub to acquire rq_lock. [pavel: removed a warning and a comment]
Configurations

Configuration 1 (hide)

OR cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

History

12 May 2026, 21:17

Type Values Removed Values Added
CWE CWE-362
References () https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/003049b1c4fb8aabb93febb7d1e49004f6ad653b - () https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/003049b1c4fb8aabb93febb7d1e49004f6ad653b - Patch
References () https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/485dc691257b96e6d3bdc25b0eff2daadcc5c46c - () https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/485dc691257b96e6d3bdc25b0eff2daadcc5c46c - Patch
References () https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a94f096e28bfc7975163a6b80f1c8f323efe317a - () https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a94f096e28bfc7975163a6b80f1c8f323efe317a - Patch
CVSS v2 : unknown
v3 : unknown
v2 : unknown
v3 : 4.7
First Time Linux linux Kernel
Linux
CPE cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

06 May 2026, 12:16

Type Values Removed Values Added
New CVE

Information

Published : 2026-05-06 12:16

Updated : 2026-05-12 21:17


NVD link : CVE-2026-43121

Mitre link : CVE-2026-43121

CVE.ORG link : CVE-2026-43121


JSON object : View

Products Affected

linux

  • linux_kernel
CWE
CWE-362

Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')