CVE-2025-38338

fs/nfs/read: fix double-unlock bug in nfs_return_empty_folio()

HIGH
7.8
CVSS Score
Published: July 10, 2025 at 08:15 AM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 09:16 AM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorLinux Kernel

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Severity
HIGH7.8
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.2%

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fs/nfs/read: fix double-unlock bug in nfs_return_empty_folio() Sometimes, when a file was read while it was being truncated by another NFS client, the kernel could deadlock because folio_unlock() was called twice, and the second call would XOR back the `PG_locked` flag. Most of the time (depending on the timing of the truncation), nobody notices the problem because folio_unlock() gets called three times, which flips `PG_locked` back off: 1. vfs_read, nfs_read_folio, ... nfs_read_add_folio, nfs_return_empty_folio 2. vfs_read, nfs_read_folio, ... netfs_read_collection, netfs_unlock_abandoned_read_pages 3. vfs_read, ... nfs_do_read_folio, nfs_read_add_folio, nfs_return_empty_folio The problem is that nfs_read_add_folio() is not supposed to unlock the folio if fscache is enabled, and a nfs_netfs_folio_unlock() check is missing in nfs_return_empty_folio(). Rarely this leads to a warning in netfs_read_collection(): ------------[ cut here ]------------ R=0000031c: folio 10 is not locked WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 29 at fs/netfs/read_collect.c:133 netfs_read_collection+0x7c0/0xf00 [...] Workqueue: events_unbound netfs_read_collection_worker RIP: 0010:netfs_read_collection+0x7c0/0xf00 [...] Call Trace: <TASK> netfs_read_collection_worker+0x67/0x80 process_one_work+0x12e/0x2c0 worker_thread+0x295/0x3a0 Most of the time, however, processes just get stuck forever in folio_wait_bit_common(), waiting for `PG_locked` to disappear, which never happens because nobody is really holding the folio lock.

Affected

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

6.13 ≤ v < 6.15.46.4 ≤ v < 6.12.356.4 ≤ v < 6.15.46.4 ≤ v < 6.166.4 ≤ v < 6.6.956.7 ≤ v < 6.12.350dbe0bec58cbf2ca9e156e4a5584f5158b0f96.4
Vendor states this is fixed in 14f5549ad163be2c018abc1bb38370fff617a243 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 1e93b61d3eaa14bfebcc2716ac09d43f3845d420 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 4c10fa44bc5f700e2ea21de2fbae520ba21f19d9 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5bf0b9eeb0174686f22c2e5b8fb9f47ad25da6f5 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.12.35 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.15.4 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.16 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.4 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.6.95 (unaffected)

References (4)

Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/14f5549ad163be2c018abc1bb38370fff617a243
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1e93b61d3eaa14bfebcc2716ac09d43f3845d420
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4c10fa44bc5f700e2ea21de2fbae520ba21f19d9
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5bf0b9eeb0174686f22c2e5b8fb9f47ad25da6f5

CVSS

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

Quick Info

StatusANALYZED
CWE
CWE-415

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