# CVE-2024-53054: linux: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: cgroup/bpf: use a dedicated workqueue for cgroup... CVE-2024-53054 is fixed in linux on 1 platform, first by CVE-2024-53054, released November 19, 2024. It is not reported as exploited. Patch Radar priority: Routine. - Web page: https://patchblox.com/security/cve/CVE-2024-53054 - Priority: Routine - CVSS: n/a - EPSS: n/a - CISA KEV: not listed - Exploited (vendor report): no - Publicly disclosed: no - Published: Nov 19, 2024 ## Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: cgroup/bpf: use a dedicated workqueue for cgroup bpf destruction A hung_task problem shown below was found: INFO: task kworker/0:0:8 blocked for more than 327 seconds. "echo 0 > /proc/sys/kernel/hung_task_timeout_secs" disables this message. Workqueue: events cgroup_bpf_release Call Trace: __schedule+0x5a2/0x2050 ? find_held_lock+0x33/0x100 ? wq_worker_sleeping+0x9e/0xe0 schedule+0x9f/0x180 schedule_preempt_disabled+0x25/0x50 __mutex_lock+0x512/0x740 ? cgroup_bpf_release+0x1e/0x4d0 ? cgroup_bpf_release+0xcf/0x4d0 ? process_scheduled_works+0x161/0x8a0 ? cgroup_bpf_release+0x1e/0x4d0 ? mutex_lock_nested+0x2b/0x40 ? __pfx_delay_tsc+0x10/0x10 mutex_lock_nested+0x2b/0x40 cgroup_bpf_release+0xcf/0x4d0 ? process_scheduled_works+0x161/0x8a0 ? trace_event_raw_event_workqueue_execute_start+0x64/0xd0 ? process_scheduled_works+0x161/0x8a0 process_scheduled_works+0x23a/0x8a0 worker_thread+0x231/0x5b0 ? __pfx_worker_thread+0x10/0x10 kthread+0x14d/0x1c0 ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 ret_from_fork+0x59/0x70 ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 ret_from_fork_asm+0x1b/0x30 This issue can be reproduced by the following pressuse test: 1. A large number of cpuset cgroups are deleted. 2. Set cpu on and off repeatly. 3. Set watchdog_thresh repeatly. The scripts can be obtained at LINK mentioned above the signature. The reason for this issue is cgroup_mutex and cpu_hotplug_lock are acquired in different tasks, which may lead to deadlock. It can lead to a deadlock through the following steps: 1. A large number of cpusets are deleted asynchronously, which puts a large number of cgroup_bpf_release works into system_wq. The max_active of system_wq is WQ_DFL_ACTIVE(256). Consequently, all active works are cgroup_bpf_release works, and many cgroup_bpf_release works will be put into inactive queue. As illustrated in the diagram, there are 256 (in the acvtive queue) + n (in the inactive queue) works. 2. Setting watchdog_thresh will hold cpu_hotplug_lock.read and put smp_call_on_cpu work into system_wq. However step 1 has already filled system_wq, 'sscs.work' is put into inactive queue. 'sscs.work' has to wait until the works that were put into the inacvtive queue earlier have executed (n cgroup_bpf_release), so it will be blocked for a while. 3. Cpu offline requires cpu_hotplug_lock.write, which is blocked by step 2. 4. Cpusets that were deleted at step 1 put cgroup_release works into cgroup_destroy_wq. They are competing to get cgroup_mutex all the time. When cgroup_metux is acqured by work at css_killed_work_fn, it will call cpuset_css_offline, which needs to acqure cpu_hotplug_lock.read. However, cpuset_css_offline will be blocked for step 3. 5. At this moment, there are 256 works in active queue that are cgroup_bpf_release, they are attempting to acquire cgroup_mutex, and as a result, all of them are blocked. Consequently, sscs.work can not be executed. Ultimately, this situation leads to four processes being blocked, forming a deadlock. system_wq(step1) WatchDog(step2) cpu offline(step3) cgroup_destroy_wq(step4) ... 2000+ cgroups deleted asyn 256 actives + n inactives __lockup_detector_reconfigure P(cpu_hotplug_lock.read) put sscs.work into system_wq 256 + n + 1(sscs.work) sscs.work wait to be executed warting sscs.work finish percpu_down_write P(cpu_hotplug_lock.write) ...blocking... css_killed_work_fn P(cgroup_mutex) cpuset_css_offline P(cpu_hotplug_lock.read) ...blocking... 256 cgroup_bpf_release mutex_lock(&cgroup_mutex); ..blocking... To fix the problem, place cgroup_bpf_release works on a dedicated workqueue which can break the loop and solve the problem. System wqs are for misc things which shouldn't create a large number of concurrent work items. If something is going to generate > ---truncated--- ## Where it's fixed | Platform | Product | Fixed in | Fix | Released | |---|---|---|---|---| | Linux | linux Debian 12.15 (bookworm) | 6.1.119-1 | [CVE-2024-53054](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/cve-2024-53054.md) | Nov 19, 2024 | | Linux | linux Debian 13.5 (trixie) | 6.11.7-1 | [CVE-2024-53054](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/cve-2024-53054.md) | Nov 19, 2024 | --- Data as of 2026-11-10T01:44:33Z UTC. Source: Patchblox Patch Radar (https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar). Patchblox finds out-of-date software on Windows, macOS and Linux and updates it through release rings: https://patchblox.com/demo Free to use with attribution: show "Data: Patchblox Patch Radar" with a link to https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar. 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