In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
block: fix race between wbt_enable_default and IO submission
When wbt_enable_default() is moved out of queue freezing in elevator_change(),
it can cause the wbt inflight counter to become negative (-1), leading to hung
tasks in the writeback path. Tasks get stuck in wbt_wait() because the counter
is in an inconsistent state.
The issue occurs because wbt_enable_default() could race with IO submission,
allowing the counter to be decremented before proper initialization. This manifests
as:
rq_wait[0]:
inflight: -1
has_waiters: True
rwb_enabled() checks the state, which can be updated exactly between wbt_wait()
(rq_qos_throttle()) and wbt_track()(rq_qos_track()), then the inflight counter
will become negative.
And results in hung task warnings like:
task:kworker/u24:39 state:D stack:0 pid:14767
Call Trace:
rq_qos_wait+0xb4/0x150
wbt_wait+0xa9/0x100
__rq_qos_throttle+0x24/0x40
blk_mq_submit_bio+0x672/0x7b0
...
Fix this by:
1. Splitting wbt_enable_default() into:
- __wbt_enable_default(): Returns true if wbt_init() should be called
- wbt_enable_default(): Wrapper for existing callers (no init)
- wbt_init_enable_default(): New function that checks and inits WBT
2. Using wbt_init_enable_default() in blk_register_queue() to ensure
proper initialization during queue registration
3. Move wbt_init() out of wbt_enable_default() which is only for enabling
disabled wbt from bfq and iocost, and wbt_init() isn't needed. Then the
original lock warning can be avoided.
4. Removing the ELEVATOR_FLAG_ENABLE_WBT_ON_EXIT flag and its handling
code since it's no longer needed
This ensures WBT is properly initialized before any IO can be submitted,
preventing the counter from going negative.
block: fix race between wbt_enable_default and IO submission
When wbt_enable_default() is moved out of queue freezing in elevator_change(),
it can cause the wbt inflight counter to become negative (-1), leading to hung
tasks in the writeback path. Tasks get stuck in wbt_wait() because the counter
is in an inconsistent state.
The issue occurs because wbt_enable_default() could race with IO submission,
allowing the counter to be decremented before proper initialization. This manifests
as:
rq_wait[0]:
inflight: -1
has_waiters: True
rwb_enabled() checks the state, which can be updated exactly between wbt_wait()
(rq_qos_throttle()) and wbt_track()(rq_qos_track()), then the inflight counter
will become negative.
And results in hung task warnings like:
task:kworker/u24:39 state:D stack:0 pid:14767
Call Trace:
rq_qos_wait+0xb4/0x150
wbt_wait+0xa9/0x100
__rq_qos_throttle+0x24/0x40
blk_mq_submit_bio+0x672/0x7b0
...
Fix this by:
1. Splitting wbt_enable_default() into:
- __wbt_enable_default(): Returns true if wbt_init() should be called
- wbt_enable_default(): Wrapper for existing callers (no init)
- wbt_init_enable_default(): New function that checks and inits WBT
2. Using wbt_init_enable_default() in blk_register_queue() to ensure
proper initialization during queue registration
3. Move wbt_init() out of wbt_enable_default() which is only for enabling
disabled wbt from bfq and iocost, and wbt_init() isn't needed. Then the
original lock warning can be avoided.
4. Removing the ELEVATOR_FLAG_ENABLE_WBT_ON_EXIT flag and its handling
code since it's no longer needed
This ensures WBT is properly initialized before any IO can be submitted,
preventing the counter from going negative.
Metrics
Affected Vendors & Products
Advisories
No advisories yet.
Fixes
Solution
No solution given by the vendor.
Workaround
No workaround given by the vendor.
References
History
Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:45:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: block: fix race between wbt_enable_default and IO submission When wbt_enable_default() is moved out of queue freezing in elevator_change(), it can cause the wbt inflight counter to become negative (-1), leading to hung tasks in the writeback path. Tasks get stuck in wbt_wait() because the counter is in an inconsistent state. The issue occurs because wbt_enable_default() could race with IO submission, allowing the counter to be decremented before proper initialization. This manifests as: rq_wait[0]: inflight: -1 has_waiters: True rwb_enabled() checks the state, which can be updated exactly between wbt_wait() (rq_qos_throttle()) and wbt_track()(rq_qos_track()), then the inflight counter will become negative. And results in hung task warnings like: task:kworker/u24:39 state:D stack:0 pid:14767 Call Trace: rq_qos_wait+0xb4/0x150 wbt_wait+0xa9/0x100 __rq_qos_throttle+0x24/0x40 blk_mq_submit_bio+0x672/0x7b0 ... Fix this by: 1. Splitting wbt_enable_default() into: - __wbt_enable_default(): Returns true if wbt_init() should be called - wbt_enable_default(): Wrapper for existing callers (no init) - wbt_init_enable_default(): New function that checks and inits WBT 2. Using wbt_init_enable_default() in blk_register_queue() to ensure proper initialization during queue registration 3. Move wbt_init() out of wbt_enable_default() which is only for enabling disabled wbt from bfq and iocost, and wbt_init() isn't needed. Then the original lock warning can be avoided. 4. Removing the ELEVATOR_FLAG_ENABLE_WBT_ON_EXIT flag and its handling code since it's no longer needed This ensures WBT is properly initialized before any IO can be submitted, preventing the counter from going negative. | |
| Title | block: fix race between wbt_enable_default and IO submission | |
| First Time appeared |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| Vendors & Products |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| References |
|
Projects
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MITRE
Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Linux
Published:
Updated: 2026-01-13T15:29:14.483Z
Reserved: 2025-12-24T10:30:51.045Z
Link: CVE-2025-68807
Vulnrichment
No data.
NVD
Status : Received
Published: 2026-01-13T16:16:02.857
Modified: 2026-01-13T16:16:02.857
Link: CVE-2025-68807
Redhat
No data.
OpenCVE Enrichment
No data.
Weaknesses
No weakness.