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In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been...

Moderate severity Unreviewed Published Jul 25, 2025 to the GitHub Advisory Database • Updated Nov 19, 2025

Package

No package listedSuggest a package

Affected versions

Unknown

Patched versions

Unknown

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

IB/mlx5: Fix potential deadlock in MR deregistration

The issue arises when kzalloc() is invoked while holding umem_mutex or
any other lock acquired under umem_mutex. This is problematic because
kzalloc() can trigger fs_reclaim_aqcuire(), which may, in turn, invoke
mmu_notifier_invalidate_range_start(). This function can lead to
mlx5_ib_invalidate_range(), which attempts to acquire umem_mutex again,
resulting in a deadlock.

The problematic flow:

CPU0 CPU1
mlx5_ib_dereg_mr()
→ revoke_mr()
→ mutex_lock(&umem_odp->umem_mutex)
                                   | mlx5_mkey_cache_init()
                                   |  → mutex_lock(&dev->cache.rb_lock)
                                   |  → mlx5r_cache_create_ent_locked()
                                   |    → kzalloc(GFP_KERNEL)
                                   |      → fs_reclaim()
                                   |        → mmu_notifier_invalidate_range_start()
                                   |          → mlx5_ib_invalidate_range()
                                   |            → mutex_lock(&umem_odp->umem_mutex)

→ cache_ent_find_and_store() |
→ mutex_lock(&dev->cache.rb_lock) |

Additionally, when kzalloc() is called from within
cache_ent_find_and_store(), we encounter the same deadlock due to
re-acquisition of umem_mutex.

Solve by releasing umem_mutex in dereg_mr() after umr_revoke_mr()
and before acquiring rb_lock. This ensures that we don't hold
umem_mutex while performing memory allocations that could trigger
the reclaim path.

This change prevents the deadlock by ensuring proper lock ordering and
avoiding holding locks during memory allocation operations that could
trigger the reclaim path.

The following lockdep warning demonstrates the deadlock:

python3/20557 is trying to acquire lock:
ffff888387542128 (&umem_odp->umem_mutex){+.+.}-{4:4}, at:
mlx5_ib_invalidate_range+0x5b/0x550 [mlx5_ib]

but task is already holding lock:
ffffffff82f6b840 (mmu_notifier_invalidate_range_start){+.+.}-{0:0}, at:
unmap_vmas+0x7b/0x1a0

which lock already depends on the new lock.

the existing dependency chain (in reverse order) is:

-> #3 (mmu_notifier_invalidate_range_start){+.+.}-{0:0}:
fs_reclaim_acquire+0x60/0xd0
mem_cgroup_css_alloc+0x6f/0x9b0
cgroup_init_subsys+0xa4/0x240
cgroup_init+0x1c8/0x510
start_kernel+0x747/0x760
x86_64_start_reservations+0x25/0x30
x86_64_start_kernel+0x73/0x80
common_startup_64+0x129/0x138

-> #2 (fs_reclaim){+.+.}-{0:0}:
fs_reclaim_acquire+0x91/0xd0
__kmalloc_cache_noprof+0x4d/0x4c0
mlx5r_cache_create_ent_locked+0x75/0x620 [mlx5_ib]
mlx5_mkey_cache_init+0x186/0x360 [mlx5_ib]
mlx5_ib_stage_post_ib_reg_umr_init+0x3c/0x60 [mlx5_ib]
__mlx5_ib_add+0x4b/0x190 [mlx5_ib]
mlx5r_probe+0xd9/0x320 [mlx5_ib]
auxiliary_bus_probe+0x42/0x70
really_probe+0xdb/0x360
__driver_probe_device+0x8f/0x130
driver_probe_device+0x1f/0xb0
__driver_attach+0xd4/0x1f0
bus_for_each_dev+0x79/0xd0
bus_add_driver+0xf0/0x200
driver_register+0x6e/0xc0
__auxiliary_driver_register+0x6a/0xc0
do_one_initcall+0x5e/0x390
do_init_module+0x88/0x240
init_module_from_file+0x85/0xc0
idempotent_init_module+0x104/0x300
__x64_sys_finit_module+0x68/0xc0
do_syscall_64+0x6d/0x140
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x4b/0x53

-> #1 (&dev->cache.rb_lock){+.+.}-{4:4}:
__mutex_lock+0x98/0xf10
__mlx5_ib_dereg_mr+0x6f2/0x890 [mlx5_ib]
mlx5_ib_dereg_mr+0x21/0x110 [mlx5_ib]
ib_dereg_mr_user+0x85/0x1f0 [ib_core]

---truncated---

References

Published by the National Vulnerability Database Jul 25, 2025
Published to the GitHub Advisory Database Jul 25, 2025
Last updated Nov 19, 2025

Severity

Moderate

CVSS overall score

This score calculates overall vulnerability severity from 0 to 10 and is based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS).
/ 10

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector
Local
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector: More severe the more the remote (logically and physically) an attacker can be in order to exploit the vulnerability.
Attack complexity: More severe for the least complex attacks.
Privileges required: More severe if no privileges are required.
User interaction: More severe when no user interaction is required.
Scope: More severe when a scope change occurs, e.g. one vulnerable component impacts resources in components beyond its security scope.
Confidentiality: More severe when loss of data confidentiality is highest, measuring the level of data access available to an unauthorized user.
Integrity: More severe when loss of data integrity is the highest, measuring the consequence of data modification possible by an unauthorized user.
Availability: More severe when the loss of impacted component availability is highest.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

EPSS score

Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS)

This score estimates the probability of this vulnerability being exploited within the next 30 days. Data provided by FIRST.
(2nd percentile)

Weaknesses

Improper Locking

The product does not properly acquire or release a lock on a resource, leading to unexpected resource state changes and behaviors. Learn more on MITRE.

CVE ID

CVE-2025-38373

GHSA ID

GHSA-456m-93fm-gff2

Source code

No known source code

Dependabot alerts are not supported on this advisory because it does not have a package from a supported ecosystem with an affected and fixed version.

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