CVE-2025-39953

  • Published: 2025-10-04T08:15:48.627

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

cgroup: split cgroup_destroy_wq into 3 workqueues

A hung task can occur during [1] LTP cgroup testing when repeatedly
mounting/unmounting perf_event and net_prio controllers with
systemd.unified_cgroup_hierarchy=1. The hang manifests in
cgroup_lock_and_drain_offline() during root destruction.

Related case:
cgroup_fj_function_perf_event cgroup_fj_function.sh perf_event
cgroup_fj_function_net_prio cgroup_fj_function.sh net_prio

Call Trace:
cgroup_lock_and_drain_offline+0x14c/0x1e8
cgroup_destroy_root+0x3c/0x2c0
css_free_rwork_fn+0x248/0x338
process_one_work+0x16c/0x3b8
worker_thread+0x22c/0x3b0
kthread+0xec/0x100
ret_from_fork+0x10/0x20

Root Cause:

CPU0 CPU1
mount perf_event umount net_prio
cgroup1_get_tree cgroup_kill_sb
rebind_subsystems // root destruction enqueues
// cgroup_destroy_wq
// kill all perf_event css
// one perf_event css A is dying
// css A offline enqueues cgroup_destroy_wq
// root destruction will be executed first
css_free_rwork_fn
cgroup_destroy_root
cgroup_lock_and_drain_offline
// some perf descendants are dying
// cgroup_destroy_wq max_active = 1
// waiting for css A to die

Problem scenario:
1. CPU0 mounts perf_event (rebind_subsystems)
2. CPU1 unmounts net_prio (cgroup_kill_sb), queuing root destruction work
3. A dying perf_event CSS gets queued for offline after root destruction
4. Root destruction waits for offline completion, but offline work is
blocked behind root destruction in cgroup_destroy_wq (max_active=1)

Solution:
Split cgroup_destroy_wq into three dedicated workqueues:
cgroup_offline_wq – Handles CSS offline operations
cgroup_release_wq – Manages resource release
cgroup_free_wq – Performs final memory deallocation

This separation eliminates blocking in the CSS free path while waiting for
offline operations to complete.

[1] https://github.com/linux-test-project/ltp/blob/master/runtest/controllers

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How to fix CVE-2025-39953

CVE-2025-39953 is a unknown severity vulnerability affecting the affected product.

Description: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: cgroup: split cgroup_destroy_wq into 3 workqueues A hung task can occur during [1] LTP cgroup testing when repeatedly mounting/unmounting perf_event and net_prio controllers with systemd.unified_cgroup_hierarchy=1. The hang manifests in cgroup_lock_and_drain_offline() during root destruction. Related case: cgroup_fj_function_perf_event cgroup_fj_function.sh perf_event cgroup_fj_function_net_prio cgroup_fj_function.sh net_prio Call Trace: cgroup_lock_and_drain_offline+0x14c/0x1e8 cgroup_destroy_root+0x3c/0x2c0 […]

Exploit Difficulty: HARD
⏱️ Time to exploit: > 4 hours
🛠️ Required skills: Advanced security expertise
💰 Public exploits: Rare or not public

How to Fix:

1 Identify affected systems

- Check if you're running the affected product

2 Immediate actions

- Update to the latest patched version
- If patching is not immediately possible: restrict network exposure, apply least-privilege access

3 Verification

- Test the fix in a staging environment first
- Review logs for signs of exploitation
- Monitor for IOCs (Indicators of Compromise)

4 Long-term prevention

- Enable automatic security updates
- Set up vulnerability monitoring
- Review and harden security configurations

Vendor Advisory: https://github.com/linux-test-project/ltp/blob/master/runtest/controllers

Exploit Difficulty Assessment

HARD
⏱️ Time to Exploit: > 4 hours
🛠️ Skills Required: Advanced security expertise
💰 Public Exploits: Rare or not public

Vulnerability Timeline

Oct 04, 2025
Vulnerability Published

CVE details first published to NVD database

Nov 12, 2025
Imported to Database

Added to this CVE tracking system

Detection Rules & IOCs

No specific detection rules generated for this vulnerability type.

No vendor/product data available.