In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
io_uring/io-wq: don't lose the signal that ends work
When a thread exits, only its tracked requests are cancelled. Then its
io-wq is torn down. io_wq_exit_workers() signals every worker, to get it
out of an interruptible sleep, and waits for all of them to exit. Before
they do, they go through the work that is left. Unbounded work is
cancelled. Bounded work is run, as it is expected to end by itself.
Not all of it does. An open has no file yet, so it counts as bounded, and
the open of a FIFO waits for the other end. That is what the signal is for.
But the workers are signalled once, and a worker that hasn't started the
work by then loses the signal:
io_wq_exit_workers() io_worker_handle_work()
io_wq_worker_wake()
set TIF_NOTIFY_SIGNAL
io_assign_current_work()
io_run_task_work()
clear TIF_NOTIFY_SIGNAL
io_wq_submit_work()
fifo_open()
wait_for_partner()
wait_for_completion_timeout()
The thread never gets out of do_exit():
IORING_OP_OPENAT of a FIFO without a writer, IOSQE_ASYNC
exit of the thread that has submitted it
hangs in more than 9 of 10 attempts (4 CPUs, KVM), until the process is
killed.
Set TIF_NOTIFY_SIGNAL for bounded work that is started with IO_WQ_BIT_EXIT
set. The bit is set before the workers are signalled, and it is tested
after the flag has been cleared, with clear_notify_signal() providing the
barrier. So either the flag stays, or the bit is seen.
Work that is started while the io-wq exits is treated like work that is
being run at that time: it isn't interrupted unless it waits
interruptibly.
io_uring/io-wq: don't lose the signal that ends work
When a thread exits, only its tracked requests are cancelled. Then its
io-wq is torn down. io_wq_exit_workers() signals every worker, to get it
out of an interruptible sleep, and waits for all of them to exit. Before
they do, they go through the work that is left. Unbounded work is
cancelled. Bounded work is run, as it is expected to end by itself.
Not all of it does. An open has no file yet, so it counts as bounded, and
the open of a FIFO waits for the other end. That is what the signal is for.
But the workers are signalled once, and a worker that hasn't started the
work by then loses the signal:
io_wq_exit_workers() io_worker_handle_work()
io_wq_worker_wake()
set TIF_NOTIFY_SIGNAL
io_assign_current_work()
io_run_task_work()
clear TIF_NOTIFY_SIGNAL
io_wq_submit_work()
fifo_open()
wait_for_partner()
wait_for_completion_timeout()
The thread never gets out of do_exit():
IORING_OP_OPENAT of a FIFO without a writer, IOSQE_ASYNC
exit of the thread that has submitted it
hangs in more than 9 of 10 attempts (4 CPUs, KVM), until the process is
killed.
Set TIF_NOTIFY_SIGNAL for bounded work that is started with IO_WQ_BIT_EXIT
set. The bit is set before the workers are signalled, and it is tested
after the flag has been cleared, with clear_notify_signal() providing the
barrier. So either the flag stays, or the bit is seen.
Work that is started while the io-wq exits is treated like work that is
being run at that time: it isn't interrupted unless it waits
interruptibly.
Metrics
Affected Vendors & Products
Advisories
No advisories yet.
Fixes
Solution
No solution given by the vendor.
Workaround
No workaround given by the vendor.
References
History
Mon, 02 Nov 2026 18:30:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| First Time appeared |
Linux linux
|
|
| Vendors & Products |
Linux linux
|
Mon, 02 Nov 2026 18:00:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Weaknesses | CWE-754 |
Mon, 02 Nov 2026 16:15:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: io_uring/io-wq: don't lose the signal that ends work When a thread exits, only its tracked requests are cancelled. Then its io-wq is torn down. io_wq_exit_workers() signals every worker, to get it out of an interruptible sleep, and waits for all of them to exit. Before they do, they go through the work that is left. Unbounded work is cancelled. Bounded work is run, as it is expected to end by itself. Not all of it does. An open has no file yet, so it counts as bounded, and the open of a FIFO waits for the other end. That is what the signal is for. But the workers are signalled once, and a worker that hasn't started the work by then loses the signal: io_wq_exit_workers() io_worker_handle_work() io_wq_worker_wake() set TIF_NOTIFY_SIGNAL io_assign_current_work() io_run_task_work() clear TIF_NOTIFY_SIGNAL io_wq_submit_work() fifo_open() wait_for_partner() wait_for_completion_timeout() The thread never gets out of do_exit(): IORING_OP_OPENAT of a FIFO without a writer, IOSQE_ASYNC exit of the thread that has submitted it hangs in more than 9 of 10 attempts (4 CPUs, KVM), until the process is killed. Set TIF_NOTIFY_SIGNAL for bounded work that is started with IO_WQ_BIT_EXIT set. The bit is set before the workers are signalled, and it is tested after the flag has been cleared, with clear_notify_signal() providing the barrier. So either the flag stays, or the bit is seen. Work that is started while the io-wq exits is treated like work that is being run at that time: it isn't interrupted unless it waits interruptibly. | |
| Title | io_uring/io-wq: don't lose the signal that ends work | |
| 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: 2026-11-02T16:06:36.680Z
Reserved: 2026-09-25T10:25:14.402Z
Link: CVE-2026-99228
Vulnrichment
No data.
NVD
Status : Received
Published: 2026-11-02T16:17:47.600
Modified: 2026-11-02T16:17:47.600
Link: CVE-2026-99228
Redhat
No data.
OpenCVE Enrichment
Updated: 2026-11-02T18:15:14Z
Weaknesses