CVE-2026-68096 (GCVE-0-2026-68096)
Vulnerability from cvelistv5
Published
2026-08-10 11:58
Modified
2026-08-23 12:45
Severity ?
7.5 (High) - CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: audit: fix recursive locking deadlock in audit_dupe_exe() A deadlock occurs in the audit subsystem when duplicating executable-related rules. When a file is moved (e.g., via do_renameat2()), the VFS layer locks the parent directory (I_MUTEX_PARENT), which synchronously triggers an fsnotify_move event. If an existing executable audit rule matches the file being moved, the audit subsystem catches this event and calls audit_dupe_exe() to duplicate the watch and update the rule. Then, audit_alloc_mark() would call kern_path_parent() to resolve the path, leading to a blind attempt to acquire the exact same I_MUTEX_PARENT lock already held by the task, resulting in the following recursive locking deadlock: ============================================ WARNING: possible recursive locking detected 6.12.0-55.27.1.el10_0.x86_64+debug #1 Not tainted -------------------------------------------- mv/5099 is trying to acquire lock: ffff888132845358 (&inode->i_sb->s_type->i_mutex_dir_key/1){+.+.}-{3:3}, at: __kern_path_locked+0x10a/0x2f0 but task is already holding lock: ffff888132846b58 (&inode->i_sb->s_type->i_mutex_dir_key/1){+.+.}-{3:3}, at: lock_two_directories+0x13f/0x2b0 other info that might help us debug this: Possible unsafe locking scenario: CPU0 ---- lock(&inode->i_sb->s_type->i_mutex_dir_key/1); lock(&inode->i_sb->s_type->i_mutex_dir_key/1); *** DEADLOCK *** May be due to missing lock nesting notation 6 locks held by mv/5099: #0: ffff888112a9c440 (sb_writers#13) at: do_renameat2+0x34c/0xbc0 #1: ffff888112a9c790 (&type->s_vfs_rename_key#3) at: do_renameat2+0x415/0xbc0 #2: ffff888132846b58 (&inode->i_sb->s_type->i_mutex_dir_key/1) at: lock_two_directories+0x13f/0x2b0 #3: ffff888132845358 (&inode->i_sb->s_type->i_mutex_dir_key/5) at: lock_two_directories+0x175/0x2b0 #4: ffffffffb3a1fb10 (&fsnotify_mark_srcu) at: fsnotify+0x454/0x28a0 #5: ffffffffaf886230 (audit_filter_mutex) at: audit_update_watch+0x36/0x11e0 stack backtrace: Call Trace: <TASK> dump_stack_lvl+0x6f/0xb0 print_deadlock_bug.cold+0xbd/0xca validate_chain+0x83a/0xf00 __lock_acquire+0xcac/0x1d20 lock_acquire.part.0+0x11b/0x360 down_write_nested+0x9f/0x230 __kern_path_locked+0x10a/0x2f0 kern_path_locked+0x26/0x40 audit_alloc_mark+0xfb/0x4f0 audit_dupe_exe+0x6c/0xe0 audit_dupe_rule+0x6c2/0xc00 audit_update_watch+0x4cc/0x11e0 audit_watch_handle_event+0x12c/0x1b0 send_to_group+0x5d0/0x8b0 fsnotify+0x615/0x28a0 fsnotify_move+0x1d8/0x630 vfs_rename+0xdcd/0x1df0 do_renameat2+0x9d4/0xbc0 __x64_sys_renameat+0x192/0x260 do_syscall_64+0x92/0x180 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e RIP: 0033:0x7f0491fe8c4e Code: 0f 1f 40 00 48 8b 15 c1 e1 16 00 f7 d8 64 89 02 b8 ff ff ff ff c3 66 0f 1f 44 00 00 f3 0f 1e fa 49 89 ca b8 08 01 00 00 0f 05 <48> 3d 00 f0 ff ff 77 0a c3 66 0f 1f 84 00 00 00 00 00 48 8b 15 89 RSP: 002b:00007ffc7210bf38 EFLAGS: 00000246 ORIG_RAX: 0000000000000108 RAX: ffffffffffffffda RBX: 0000000000000000 RCX: 00007f0491fe8c4e RDX: 0000000000000003 RSI: 00007ffc7210e6c8 RDI: 00000000ffffff9c RBP: 0000000000000000 R08: 0000000000000000 R09: 0000000000000001 R10: 00005575eb2dae2a R11: 0000000000000246 R12: 00005575eb2dae2a R13: 00007ffc7210e6c8 R14: 0000000000000003 R15: 00000000ffffff9c </TASK> The aforementioned deadlock can be consistently reproduced by running the script below: audit-dupe-exe-deadlock.sh -------------------------- #!/bin/bash auditctl -D mkdir -p /tmp/foo touch /tmp/file auditctl -a always,exit -F exe=/tmp/file -F path=/tmp/file -S all -k dr mv /tmp/file /tmp/foo/file rm -Rf /tmp/foo This patch fixes the issue by introducing struct audit_watch_ctx to pass the fsnotify event context down to audit_alloc_mark(). By utilizing the already-resolved directory inode provided by the event, we bypass the kern_path_parent() path resol ---truncated---
References
Impacted products
Vendor Product Version
Linux Linux Version: 34d99af52ad40bd498ba66970579a5bc1fb1a3bc
Version: 34d99af52ad40bd498ba66970579a5bc1fb1a3bc
Version: 34d99af52ad40bd498ba66970579a5bc1fb1a3bc
Version: 34d99af52ad40bd498ba66970579a5bc1fb1a3bc
Version: 34d99af52ad40bd498ba66970579a5bc1fb1a3bc
Version: 34d99af52ad40bd498ba66970579a5bc1fb1a3bc
Version: 34d99af52ad40bd498ba66970579a5bc1fb1a3bc
Version: 34d99af52ad40bd498ba66970579a5bc1fb1a3bc
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{
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              "operator": "OR"
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      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\naudit: fix recursive locking deadlock in audit_dupe_exe()\n\nA deadlock occurs in the audit subsystem when duplicating\nexecutable-related rules.\n\nWhen a file is moved (e.g., via do_renameat2()), the VFS layer locks\nthe parent directory (I_MUTEX_PARENT), which synchronously triggers an\nfsnotify_move event. If an existing executable audit rule matches the\nfile being moved, the audit subsystem catches this event and calls\naudit_dupe_exe() to duplicate the watch and update the rule. Then,\naudit_alloc_mark() would call kern_path_parent() to resolve the path,\nleading to a blind attempt to acquire the exact same I_MUTEX_PARENT lock\nalready held by the task, resulting in the following recursive locking\ndeadlock:\n\n ============================================\n WARNING: possible recursive locking detected\n 6.12.0-55.27.1.el10_0.x86_64+debug #1 Not tainted\n --------------------------------------------\n mv/5099 is trying to acquire lock:\n ffff888132845358 (\u0026inode-\u003ei_sb-\u003es_type-\u003ei_mutex_dir_key/1){+.+.}-{3:3},\n at: __kern_path_locked+0x10a/0x2f0\n\n but task is already holding lock:\n ffff888132846b58 (\u0026inode-\u003ei_sb-\u003es_type-\u003ei_mutex_dir_key/1){+.+.}-{3:3},\n at: lock_two_directories+0x13f/0x2b0\n\n other info that might help us debug this:\n  Possible unsafe locking scenario:\n\n        CPU0\n        ----\n   lock(\u0026inode-\u003ei_sb-\u003es_type-\u003ei_mutex_dir_key/1);\n   lock(\u0026inode-\u003ei_sb-\u003es_type-\u003ei_mutex_dir_key/1);\n\n  *** DEADLOCK ***\n\n  May be due to missing lock nesting notation\n\n  6 locks held by mv/5099:\n  #0: ffff888112a9c440 (sb_writers#13)\n  at: do_renameat2+0x34c/0xbc0\n  #1: ffff888112a9c790 (\u0026type-\u003es_vfs_rename_key#3)\n  at: do_renameat2+0x415/0xbc0\n  #2: ffff888132846b58 (\u0026inode-\u003ei_sb-\u003es_type-\u003ei_mutex_dir_key/1)\n  at: lock_two_directories+0x13f/0x2b0\n  #3: ffff888132845358 (\u0026inode-\u003ei_sb-\u003es_type-\u003ei_mutex_dir_key/5)\n  at: lock_two_directories+0x175/0x2b0\n  #4: ffffffffb3a1fb10 (\u0026fsnotify_mark_srcu)\n  at: fsnotify+0x454/0x28a0\n  #5: ffffffffaf886230 (audit_filter_mutex)\n  at: audit_update_watch+0x36/0x11e0\n\n stack backtrace:\n Call Trace:\n  \u003cTASK\u003e\n  dump_stack_lvl+0x6f/0xb0\n  print_deadlock_bug.cold+0xbd/0xca\n  validate_chain+0x83a/0xf00\n  __lock_acquire+0xcac/0x1d20\n  lock_acquire.part.0+0x11b/0x360\n  down_write_nested+0x9f/0x230\n  __kern_path_locked+0x10a/0x2f0\n  kern_path_locked+0x26/0x40\n  audit_alloc_mark+0xfb/0x4f0\n  audit_dupe_exe+0x6c/0xe0\n  audit_dupe_rule+0x6c2/0xc00\n  audit_update_watch+0x4cc/0x11e0\n  audit_watch_handle_event+0x12c/0x1b0\n  send_to_group+0x5d0/0x8b0\n  fsnotify+0x615/0x28a0\n  fsnotify_move+0x1d8/0x630\n  vfs_rename+0xdcd/0x1df0\n  do_renameat2+0x9d4/0xbc0\n  __x64_sys_renameat+0x192/0x260\n  do_syscall_64+0x92/0x180\n  entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e\n RIP: 0033:0x7f0491fe8c4e\n Code: 0f 1f 40 00 48 8b 15 c1 e1 16 00 f7 d8 64 89 02 b8 ff ff ff ff\n c3 66 0f 1f 44 00 00 f3 0f 1e fa 49 89 ca b8 08 01 00 00 0f 05 \u003c48\u003e\n 3d 00 f0 ff ff 77 0a c3 66 0f 1f 84 00 00 00 00 00 48 8b 15 89\n RSP: 002b:00007ffc7210bf38 EFLAGS: 00000246 ORIG_RAX: 0000000000000108\n RAX: ffffffffffffffda RBX: 0000000000000000 RCX: 00007f0491fe8c4e\n RDX: 0000000000000003 RSI: 00007ffc7210e6c8 RDI: 00000000ffffff9c\n RBP: 0000000000000000 R08: 0000000000000000 R09: 0000000000000001\n R10: 00005575eb2dae2a R11: 0000000000000246 R12: 00005575eb2dae2a\n R13: 00007ffc7210e6c8 R14: 0000000000000003 R15: 00000000ffffff9c\n  \u003c/TASK\u003e\n\nThe aforementioned deadlock can be consistently reproduced by running\nthe script below:\n\n audit-dupe-exe-deadlock.sh\n --------------------------\n #!/bin/bash\n auditctl -D\n mkdir -p /tmp/foo\n touch /tmp/file\n auditctl -a always,exit -F exe=/tmp/file -F path=/tmp/file -S all -k dr\n mv /tmp/file /tmp/foo/file\n rm -Rf /tmp/foo\n\nThis patch fixes the issue by introducing struct audit_watch_ctx to pass\nthe fsnotify event context down to audit_alloc_mark(). By utilizing the\nalready-resolved directory inode provided by the event, we bypass the\nkern_path_parent() path resol\n---truncated---"
        }
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "cvssV3_1": {
            "baseScore": 7.5,
            "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
            "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H",
            "version": "3.1"
          },
          "scenarios": [
            {
              "lang": "en",
              "value": "AV:N - The deadlock is triggered when vfs_rename() emits fsnotify_move() during rename processing; on NFS (nfsd) and SMB (ksmbd) servers a remote client rename request reaches this same synchronous audit_update_watch()-\u003eaudit_dupe_exe()-\u003eaudit_alloc_mark()-\u003ekern_path_parent() path, not only local renameat().\nAC:L - Once an audit rule combining exe= and path= watches exists, the fix commit shows the recursive directory-lock deadlock is consistently reproduced by a simple rename/move; the attacker controls when the rename occurs and no race or special memory layout is required.\nPR:N - Triggering requires only the ability to rename the watched file on a local or network-exported path; a remote NFS/SMB client can issue that rename without local shell access, CAP_AUDIT_CONTROL, or other elevated server-side Unix privileges beyond export write access.\nUI:N - No victim interaction is required; the attacker or any client performing the rename directly invokes the vulnerable fsnotify/audit path without needing another user to open files, click links, or mount filesystems.\nS:U - Impact is confined to the vulnerable kernel host where the rename is processed (task hang/deadlock during audit rule update); it does not cross VM, IOMMU, or sandbox security boundaries.\nC:N - This is a recursive mutex deadlock with no memory corruption, out-of-bounds access, or use-after-free; no attacker-controlled information disclosure occurs beyond optional lockdep diagnostics on debug kernels.\nI:N - The bug does not modify kernel or user data and provides no write primitive or code-execution path; it only deadlocks the calling context while holding VFS directory locks and audit_filter_mutex.\nA:H - The vulnerability causes a deterministic recursive locking deadlock that permanently hangs the rename task while holding directory inode locks and audit_filter_mutex, denying that operation and potentially blocking audit processing and directory operations system-wide."
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2026-08-23T12:45:47.969Z",
        "orgId": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
        "shortName": "Linux"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6114c3f21eb2ae175401736da744b684705e7ed9"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f6fda0ac6661c23b8356dfb1cc423960cc6f0593"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3bbb4931f7cd84cecf29ec222c0732bf9ad4da9f"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/36eb77f14b4e6f2dc1008c1fabe31236397be27a"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7d1f66c69898ffb1a718926c32a777ecc471caca"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/40879c39d6740f3dddfb52b5d6ba7fb8cceb84d8"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3b601938314c24fcd1afb6659cad92fe96c9c2f8"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/81905b5acbe77284734438df3fbec1158e6429a3"
        }
      ],
      "title": "audit: fix recursive locking deadlock in audit_dupe_exe()",
      "x_generator": {
        "engine": "bippy-1.2.0"
      }
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
    "assignerShortName": "Linux",
    "cveId": "CVE-2026-68096",
    "datePublished": "2026-08-10T11:58:09.951Z",
    "dateReserved": "2026-07-30T09:28:09.368Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-08-23T12:45:47.969Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2"
}


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