In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
arm64: entry: Avoid unnecessary local_irq_disable() on kernel exit
Currently, when exiting to kernel mode, we attempt involuntary
preemption. The preemption logic expects IRQs to be disabled, which is
why we call local_irq_disable() before attempting preemption.
However, depending on the context, local_irq_disable() may be
unnecessary:
- __el1_irq(), the non-NMI EL1 IRQ path, already has IRQs disabled, so
local_irq_disable() is redundant.
- irqentry_exit_to_kernel_mode_preempt() immediately returns when
exiting from an NMI-like context, so calling local_irq_disable()
beforehand is unnecessary work.
Furthermore, it confuses the pNMI state tracking when we are in a
context with interrupts disabled and the GIC_PRIO_PSR_I_SET bit is set
in the PMR, leading to a warning when
CONFIG_ARM64_DEBUG_PRIORITY_MASKING=y:
WARNING: ./arch/arm64/include/asm/irqflags.h:63 at arm64_exit_to_kernel_mode+0xb8/0xc0, CPU#40: retsnoop/31805
CPU: 40 UID: 0 PID: 31805 Comm: retsnoop Not tainted 7.2.0-rc6-next-20260805 #7 PREEMPTLAZY
pstate: 234013c9 (nzCv DAIF +PAN -UAO +TCO +DIT +SSBS BTYPE=--)
pc : arm64_exit_to_kernel_mode (arch/arm64/kernel/entry-common.c:63)
lr : el1_abort (arch/arm64/kernel/entry-common.c:323)
pmr: 000000f0
Call trace:
arm64_exit_to_kernel_mode (arch/arm64/kernel/entry-common.c:63) (P)
el1_abort (arch/arm64/kernel/entry-common.c:323)
el1h_64_sync_handler (arch/arm64/kernel/entry-common.c:449)
el1h_64_sync (arch/arm64/kernel/entry.S:589)
[...]
Split arm64_exit_to_kernel_mode() into preempt, non-preempt, and
dispatch parts so that we can avoid this extra work where it is not
needed and avoid breaking the pNMI tracking logic.
arm64: entry: Avoid unnecessary local_irq_disable() on kernel exit
Currently, when exiting to kernel mode, we attempt involuntary
preemption. The preemption logic expects IRQs to be disabled, which is
why we call local_irq_disable() before attempting preemption.
However, depending on the context, local_irq_disable() may be
unnecessary:
- __el1_irq(), the non-NMI EL1 IRQ path, already has IRQs disabled, so
local_irq_disable() is redundant.
- irqentry_exit_to_kernel_mode_preempt() immediately returns when
exiting from an NMI-like context, so calling local_irq_disable()
beforehand is unnecessary work.
Furthermore, it confuses the pNMI state tracking when we are in a
context with interrupts disabled and the GIC_PRIO_PSR_I_SET bit is set
in the PMR, leading to a warning when
CONFIG_ARM64_DEBUG_PRIORITY_MASKING=y:
WARNING: ./arch/arm64/include/asm/irqflags.h:63 at arm64_exit_to_kernel_mode+0xb8/0xc0, CPU#40: retsnoop/31805
CPU: 40 UID: 0 PID: 31805 Comm: retsnoop Not tainted 7.2.0-rc6-next-20260805 #7 PREEMPTLAZY
pstate: 234013c9 (nzCv DAIF +PAN -UAO +TCO +DIT +SSBS BTYPE=--)
pc : arm64_exit_to_kernel_mode (arch/arm64/kernel/entry-common.c:63)
lr : el1_abort (arch/arm64/kernel/entry-common.c:323)
pmr: 000000f0
Call trace:
arm64_exit_to_kernel_mode (arch/arm64/kernel/entry-common.c:63) (P)
el1_abort (arch/arm64/kernel/entry-common.c:323)
el1h_64_sync_handler (arch/arm64/kernel/entry-common.c:449)
el1h_64_sync (arch/arm64/kernel/entry.S:589)
[...]
Split arm64_exit_to_kernel_mode() into preempt, non-preempt, and
dispatch parts so that we can avoid this extra work where it is not
needed and avoid breaking the pNMI tracking logic.
Metrics
Affected Vendors & Products
Advisories
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Fixes
Solution
No solution given by the vendor.
Workaround
No workaround given by the vendor.
References
History
Thu, 24 Sep 2026 16:00:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: arm64: entry: Avoid unnecessary local_irq_disable() on kernel exit Currently, when exiting to kernel mode, we attempt involuntary preemption. The preemption logic expects IRQs to be disabled, which is why we call local_irq_disable() before attempting preemption. However, depending on the context, local_irq_disable() may be unnecessary: - __el1_irq(), the non-NMI EL1 IRQ path, already has IRQs disabled, so local_irq_disable() is redundant. - irqentry_exit_to_kernel_mode_preempt() immediately returns when exiting from an NMI-like context, so calling local_irq_disable() beforehand is unnecessary work. Furthermore, it confuses the pNMI state tracking when we are in a context with interrupts disabled and the GIC_PRIO_PSR_I_SET bit is set in the PMR, leading to a warning when CONFIG_ARM64_DEBUG_PRIORITY_MASKING=y: WARNING: ./arch/arm64/include/asm/irqflags.h:63 at arm64_exit_to_kernel_mode+0xb8/0xc0, CPU#40: retsnoop/31805 CPU: 40 UID: 0 PID: 31805 Comm: retsnoop Not tainted 7.2.0-rc6-next-20260805 #7 PREEMPTLAZY pstate: 234013c9 (nzCv DAIF +PAN -UAO +TCO +DIT +SSBS BTYPE=--) pc : arm64_exit_to_kernel_mode (arch/arm64/kernel/entry-common.c:63) lr : el1_abort (arch/arm64/kernel/entry-common.c:323) pmr: 000000f0 Call trace: arm64_exit_to_kernel_mode (arch/arm64/kernel/entry-common.c:63) (P) el1_abort (arch/arm64/kernel/entry-common.c:323) el1h_64_sync_handler (arch/arm64/kernel/entry-common.c:449) el1h_64_sync (arch/arm64/kernel/entry.S:589) [...] Split arm64_exit_to_kernel_mode() into preempt, non-preempt, and dispatch parts so that we can avoid this extra work where it is not needed and avoid breaking the pNMI tracking logic. | |
| Title | arm64: entry: Avoid unnecessary local_irq_disable() on kernel exit | |
| 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: 2026-09-24T15:51:40.955Z
Reserved: 2026-09-17T16:02:15.096Z
Link: CVE-2026-93254
Vulnrichment
No data.
NVD
Status : Received
Published: 2026-09-24T16:17:21.807
Modified: 2026-09-24T16:17:21.807
Link: CVE-2026-93254
Redhat
No data.
OpenCVE Enrichment
No data.
Weaknesses
No weakness.