CVE-2023-53291

rcu/rcuscale: Stop kfree_scale_thread thread(s) after unloading rcuscale

MEDIUM
5.5
CVSS Score
Published: September 16, 2025 at 08:11 AM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 06:44 AM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorLinux Kernel

Using Linux by Linux?

Get instant alerts when new vulnerabilities affect Linux - before attackers find them.

Real-time alertsTrack your software stackFree plan available
Severity
MEDIUM5.5
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.1%
SSVC
No known exploit

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: rcu/rcuscale: Stop kfree_scale_thread thread(s) after unloading rcuscale Running the 'kfree_rcu_test' test case [1] results in a splat [2]. The root cause is the kfree_scale_thread thread(s) continue running after unloading the rcuscale module. This commit fixes that isue by invoking kfree_scale_cleanup() from rcu_scale_cleanup() when removing the rcuscale module. [1] modprobe rcuscale kfree_rcu_test=1 // After some time rmmod rcuscale rmmod torture [2] BUG: unable to handle page fault for address: ffffffffc0601a87 #PF: supervisor instruction fetch in kernel mode #PF: error_code(0x0010) - not-present page PGD 11de4f067 P4D 11de4f067 PUD 11de51067 PMD 112f4d067 PTE 0 Oops: 0010 [#1] PREEMPT SMP NOPTI CPU: 1 PID: 1798 Comm: kfree_scale_thr Not tainted 6.3.0-rc1-rcu+ #1 Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 0.0.0 02/06/2015 RIP: 0010:0xffffffffc0601a87 Code: Unable to access opcode bytes at 0xffffffffc0601a5d. RSP: 0018:ffffb25bc2e57e18 EFLAGS: 00010297 RAX: 0000000000000000 RBX: ffffffffc061f0b6 RCX: 0000000000000000 RDX: 0000000000000000 RSI: ffffffff962fd0de RDI: ffffffff962fd0de RBP: ffffb25bc2e57ea8 R08: 0000000000000000 R09: 0000000000000000 R10: 0000000000000001 R11: 0000000000000001 R12: 0000000000000000 R13: 0000000000000000 R14: 000000000000000a R15: 00000000001c1dbe FS: 0000000000000000(0000) GS:ffff921fa2200000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: ffffffffc0601a5d CR3: 000000011de4c006 CR4: 0000000000370ee0 DR0: 0000000000000000 DR1: 0000000000000000 DR2: 0000000000000000 DR3: 0000000000000000 DR6: 00000000fffe0ff0 DR7: 0000000000000400 Call Trace: <TASK> ? kvfree_call_rcu+0xf0/0x3a0 ? kthread+0xf3/0x120 ? kthread_complete_and_exit+0x20/0x20 ? ret_from_fork+0x1f/0x30 </TASK> Modules linked in: rfkill sunrpc ... [last unloaded: torture] CR2: ffffffffc0601a87 ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]---

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

5.11 ≤ v < 5.15.1215.16 ≤ v < 6.1.395.6 ≤ v < 5.10.1885.6 ≤ v < 5.15.1215.6 ≤ v < 6.1.395.6 ≤ v < 6.3.135.6 ≤ v < 6.4.45.6 ≤ v < 6.56.2 ≤ v < 6.3.136.4 ≤ v < 6.4.45.6e6e78b004fa7e0ab455d46d27f218bf6ce178a18
Vendor states this is fixed in 1dd7547c7610723b2b6afe1a3c4ddb2bde63387c (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 23fc8df26dead16687ae6eb47b0561a4a832e2f6 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 29b1da4f90fc42c91beb4e400d926194925ad31b (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 604d6a5ff718874904b0fe614878a42b42c0d699 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in b8a6ba524d41f4da102e65f90498d9a910839621 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in f766d45ab294871a3d588ee76c666852f151cad9 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.10.188 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.15.121 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.6 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.1.39 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.3.13 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.4.4 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.5 (unaffected)

References (6)

Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1dd7547c7610723b2b6afe1a3c4ddb2bde63387c
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/23fc8df26dead16687ae6eb47b0561a4a832e2f6
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/29b1da4f90fc42c91beb4e400d926194925ad31b
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/604d6a5ff718874904b0fe614878a42b42c0d699
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b8a6ba524d41f4da102e65f90498d9a910839621
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f766d45ab294871a3d588ee76c666852f151cad9

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitNot automatablePartial impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

5.5MEDIUMCISA-ADP
Attack Vector
LOCAL
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
NONE
Integrity
NONE
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
NVD-CWE-noinfo

Get alerted

Stop reading CVE feeds looking for your own stack

Track the products you run and VulnTracker tells you when a new CVE affects them — with what is known about fixing it, and nothing about the rest.

Free plan, no card