CVE-2026-23368 (GCVE-0-2026-23368)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-03-25 10:27 – Updated: 2026-03-25 10:27
VLAI?
Title
net: phy: register phy led_triggers during probe to avoid AB-BA deadlock
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: phy: register phy led_triggers during probe to avoid AB-BA deadlock There is an AB-BA deadlock when both LEDS_TRIGGER_NETDEV and LED_TRIGGER_PHY are enabled: [ 1362.049207] [<8054e4b8>] led_trigger_register+0x5c/0x1fc <-- Trying to get lock "triggers_list_lock" via down_write(&triggers_list_lock); [ 1362.054536] [<80662830>] phy_led_triggers_register+0xd0/0x234 [ 1362.060329] [<8065e200>] phy_attach_direct+0x33c/0x40c [ 1362.065489] [<80651fc4>] phylink_fwnode_phy_connect+0x15c/0x23c [ 1362.071480] [<8066ee18>] mtk_open+0x7c/0xba0 [ 1362.075849] [<806d714c>] __dev_open+0x280/0x2b0 [ 1362.080384] [<806d7668>] __dev_change_flags+0x244/0x24c [ 1362.085598] [<806d7698>] dev_change_flags+0x28/0x78 [ 1362.090528] [<807150e4>] dev_ioctl+0x4c0/0x654 <-- Hold lock "rtnl_mutex" by calling rtnl_lock(); [ 1362.094985] [<80694360>] sock_ioctl+0x2f4/0x4e0 [ 1362.099567] [<802e9c4c>] sys_ioctl+0x32c/0xd8c [ 1362.104022] [<80014504>] syscall_common+0x34/0x58 Here LED_TRIGGER_PHY is registering LED triggers during phy_attach while holding RTNL and then taking triggers_list_lock. [ 1362.191101] [<806c2640>] register_netdevice_notifier+0x60/0x168 <-- Trying to get lock "rtnl_mutex" via rtnl_lock(); [ 1362.197073] [<805504ac>] netdev_trig_activate+0x194/0x1e4 [ 1362.202490] [<8054e28c>] led_trigger_set+0x1d4/0x360 <-- Hold lock "triggers_list_lock" by down_read(&triggers_list_lock); [ 1362.207511] [<8054eb38>] led_trigger_write+0xd8/0x14c [ 1362.212566] [<80381d98>] sysfs_kf_bin_write+0x80/0xbc [ 1362.217688] [<8037fcd8>] kernfs_fop_write_iter+0x17c/0x28c [ 1362.223174] [<802cbd70>] vfs_write+0x21c/0x3c4 [ 1362.227712] [<802cc0c4>] ksys_write+0x78/0x12c [ 1362.232164] [<80014504>] syscall_common+0x34/0x58 Here LEDS_TRIGGER_NETDEV is being enabled on an LED. It first takes triggers_list_lock and then RTNL. A classical AB-BA deadlock. phy_led_triggers_registers() does not require the RTNL, it does not make any calls into the network stack which require protection. There is also no requirement the PHY has been attached to a MAC, the triggers only make use of phydev state. This allows the call to phy_led_triggers_registers() to be placed elsewhere. PHY probe() and release() don't hold RTNL, so solving the AB-BA deadlock.
Severity ?
No CVSS data available.
Assigner
References
Impacted products
Vendor Product Version
Linux Linux Affected: 06f502f57d0d7728f9fa0f157ec5e4111ddb98f6 , < c6ffc2d2338d325e1edd0c702e3ee623aa5fdc6a (git)
Affected: 06f502f57d0d7728f9fa0f157ec5e4111ddb98f6 , < c33523b8fd2d4c504ada18cd93f511f2a8f84217 (git)
Affected: 06f502f57d0d7728f9fa0f157ec5e4111ddb98f6 , < 241cd64cf2e32b28ead151b1795cd8fef2b6e482 (git)
Affected: 06f502f57d0d7728f9fa0f157ec5e4111ddb98f6 , < 2764dcb3c35de4410f642afc62cf979727470575 (git)
Affected: 06f502f57d0d7728f9fa0f157ec5e4111ddb98f6 , < cde2d0b5ab5d03b5b6f17d4f654d8b30ccf36757 (git)
Affected: 06f502f57d0d7728f9fa0f157ec5e4111ddb98f6 , < c8dbdc6e380e7e96a51706db3e4b7870d8a9402d (git)
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    Linux Linux Affected: 4.16
Unaffected: 0 , < 4.16 (semver)
Unaffected: 6.1.167 , ≤ 6.1.* (semver)
Unaffected: 6.6.130 , ≤ 6.6.* (semver)
Unaffected: 6.12.78 , ≤ 6.12.* (semver)
Unaffected: 6.18.17 , ≤ 6.18.* (semver)
Unaffected: 6.19.7 , ≤ 6.19.* (semver)
Unaffected: 7.0-rc2 , ≤ * (original_commit_for_fix)
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{
  "containers": {
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected",
          "product": "Linux",
          "programFiles": [
            "drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c"
          ],
          "repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
          "vendor": "Linux",
          "versions": [
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            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "defaultStatus": "affected",
          "product": "Linux",
          "programFiles": [
            "drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c"
          ],
          "repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
          "vendor": "Linux",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "4.16"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "4.16",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "0",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThanOrEqual": "6.1.*",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "6.1.167",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThanOrEqual": "6.6.*",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "6.6.130",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThanOrEqual": "6.12.*",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "6.12.78",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThanOrEqual": "6.18.*",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "6.18.17",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThanOrEqual": "6.19.*",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "6.19.7",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThanOrEqual": "*",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "7.0-rc2",
              "versionType": "original_commit_for_fix"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "cpeApplicability": [
        {
          "nodes": [
            {
              "cpeMatch": [
                {
                  "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                  "versionEndExcluding": "6.1.167",
                  "versionStartIncluding": "4.16",
                  "vulnerable": true
                },
                {
                  "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                  "versionEndExcluding": "6.6.130",
                  "versionStartIncluding": "4.16",
                  "vulnerable": true
                },
                {
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                  "versionEndExcluding": "6.12.78",
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                },
                {
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                  "versionEndExcluding": "6.18.17",
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                  "versionEndExcluding": "6.19.7",
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                  "vulnerable": true
                }
              ],
              "negate": false,
              "operator": "OR"
            }
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      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nnet: phy: register phy led_triggers during probe to avoid AB-BA deadlock\n\nThere is an AB-BA deadlock when both LEDS_TRIGGER_NETDEV and\nLED_TRIGGER_PHY are enabled:\n\n[ 1362.049207] [\u003c8054e4b8\u003e] led_trigger_register+0x5c/0x1fc             \u003c-- Trying to get lock \"triggers_list_lock\" via down_write(\u0026triggers_list_lock);\n[ 1362.054536] [\u003c80662830\u003e] phy_led_triggers_register+0xd0/0x234\n[ 1362.060329] [\u003c8065e200\u003e] phy_attach_direct+0x33c/0x40c\n[ 1362.065489] [\u003c80651fc4\u003e] phylink_fwnode_phy_connect+0x15c/0x23c\n[ 1362.071480] [\u003c8066ee18\u003e] mtk_open+0x7c/0xba0\n[ 1362.075849] [\u003c806d714c\u003e] __dev_open+0x280/0x2b0\n[ 1362.080384] [\u003c806d7668\u003e] __dev_change_flags+0x244/0x24c\n[ 1362.085598] [\u003c806d7698\u003e] dev_change_flags+0x28/0x78\n[ 1362.090528] [\u003c807150e4\u003e] dev_ioctl+0x4c0/0x654                       \u003c-- Hold lock \"rtnl_mutex\" by calling rtnl_lock();\n[ 1362.094985] [\u003c80694360\u003e] sock_ioctl+0x2f4/0x4e0\n[ 1362.099567] [\u003c802e9c4c\u003e] sys_ioctl+0x32c/0xd8c\n[ 1362.104022] [\u003c80014504\u003e] syscall_common+0x34/0x58\n\nHere LED_TRIGGER_PHY is registering LED triggers during phy_attach\nwhile holding RTNL and then taking triggers_list_lock.\n\n[ 1362.191101] [\u003c806c2640\u003e] register_netdevice_notifier+0x60/0x168      \u003c-- Trying to get lock \"rtnl_mutex\" via rtnl_lock();\n[ 1362.197073] [\u003c805504ac\u003e] netdev_trig_activate+0x194/0x1e4\n[ 1362.202490] [\u003c8054e28c\u003e] led_trigger_set+0x1d4/0x360                 \u003c-- Hold lock \"triggers_list_lock\" by down_read(\u0026triggers_list_lock);\n[ 1362.207511] [\u003c8054eb38\u003e] led_trigger_write+0xd8/0x14c\n[ 1362.212566] [\u003c80381d98\u003e] sysfs_kf_bin_write+0x80/0xbc\n[ 1362.217688] [\u003c8037fcd8\u003e] kernfs_fop_write_iter+0x17c/0x28c\n[ 1362.223174] [\u003c802cbd70\u003e] vfs_write+0x21c/0x3c4\n[ 1362.227712] [\u003c802cc0c4\u003e] ksys_write+0x78/0x12c\n[ 1362.232164] [\u003c80014504\u003e] syscall_common+0x34/0x58\n\nHere LEDS_TRIGGER_NETDEV is being enabled on an LED. It first takes\ntriggers_list_lock and then RTNL. A classical AB-BA deadlock.\n\nphy_led_triggers_registers() does not require the RTNL, it does not\nmake any calls into the network stack which require protection. There\nis also no requirement the PHY has been attached to a MAC, the\ntriggers only make use of phydev state. This allows the call to\nphy_led_triggers_registers() to be placed elsewhere. PHY probe() and\nrelease() don\u0027t hold RTNL, so solving the AB-BA deadlock."
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2026-03-25T10:27:49.889Z",
        "orgId": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
        "shortName": "Linux"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c6ffc2d2338d325e1edd0c702e3ee623aa5fdc6a"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c33523b8fd2d4c504ada18cd93f511f2a8f84217"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/241cd64cf2e32b28ead151b1795cd8fef2b6e482"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2764dcb3c35de4410f642afc62cf979727470575"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cde2d0b5ab5d03b5b6f17d4f654d8b30ccf36757"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c8dbdc6e380e7e96a51706db3e4b7870d8a9402d"
        }
      ],
      "title": "net: phy: register phy led_triggers during probe to avoid AB-BA deadlock",
      "x_generator": {
        "engine": "bippy-1.2.0"
      }
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
    "assignerShortName": "Linux",
    "cveId": "CVE-2026-23368",
    "datePublished": "2026-03-25T10:27:49.889Z",
    "dateReserved": "2026-01-13T15:37:46.003Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-03-25T10:27:49.889Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2",
  "vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
    "nvd": "{\"cve\":{\"id\":\"CVE-2026-23368\",\"sourceIdentifier\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\",\"published\":\"2026-03-25T11:16:36.167\",\"lastModified\":\"2026-03-25T15:41:33.977\",\"vulnStatus\":\"Awaiting Analysis\",\"cveTags\":[],\"descriptions\":[{\"lang\":\"en\",\"value\":\"In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\\n\\nnet: phy: register phy led_triggers during probe to avoid AB-BA deadlock\\n\\nThere is an AB-BA deadlock when both LEDS_TRIGGER_NETDEV and\\nLED_TRIGGER_PHY are enabled:\\n\\n[ 1362.049207] [\u003c8054e4b8\u003e] led_trigger_register+0x5c/0x1fc             \u003c-- Trying to get lock \\\"triggers_list_lock\\\" via down_write(\u0026triggers_list_lock);\\n[ 1362.054536] [\u003c80662830\u003e] phy_led_triggers_register+0xd0/0x234\\n[ 1362.060329] [\u003c8065e200\u003e] phy_attach_direct+0x33c/0x40c\\n[ 1362.065489] [\u003c80651fc4\u003e] phylink_fwnode_phy_connect+0x15c/0x23c\\n[ 1362.071480] [\u003c8066ee18\u003e] mtk_open+0x7c/0xba0\\n[ 1362.075849] [\u003c806d714c\u003e] __dev_open+0x280/0x2b0\\n[ 1362.080384] [\u003c806d7668\u003e] __dev_change_flags+0x244/0x24c\\n[ 1362.085598] [\u003c806d7698\u003e] dev_change_flags+0x28/0x78\\n[ 1362.090528] [\u003c807150e4\u003e] dev_ioctl+0x4c0/0x654                       \u003c-- Hold lock \\\"rtnl_mutex\\\" by calling rtnl_lock();\\n[ 1362.094985] [\u003c80694360\u003e] sock_ioctl+0x2f4/0x4e0\\n[ 1362.099567] [\u003c802e9c4c\u003e] sys_ioctl+0x32c/0xd8c\\n[ 1362.104022] [\u003c80014504\u003e] syscall_common+0x34/0x58\\n\\nHere LED_TRIGGER_PHY is registering LED triggers during phy_attach\\nwhile holding RTNL and then taking triggers_list_lock.\\n\\n[ 1362.191101] [\u003c806c2640\u003e] register_netdevice_notifier+0x60/0x168      \u003c-- Trying to get lock \\\"rtnl_mutex\\\" via rtnl_lock();\\n[ 1362.197073] [\u003c805504ac\u003e] netdev_trig_activate+0x194/0x1e4\\n[ 1362.202490] [\u003c8054e28c\u003e] led_trigger_set+0x1d4/0x360                 \u003c-- Hold lock \\\"triggers_list_lock\\\" by down_read(\u0026triggers_list_lock);\\n[ 1362.207511] [\u003c8054eb38\u003e] led_trigger_write+0xd8/0x14c\\n[ 1362.212566] [\u003c80381d98\u003e] sysfs_kf_bin_write+0x80/0xbc\\n[ 1362.217688] [\u003c8037fcd8\u003e] kernfs_fop_write_iter+0x17c/0x28c\\n[ 1362.223174] [\u003c802cbd70\u003e] vfs_write+0x21c/0x3c4\\n[ 1362.227712] [\u003c802cc0c4\u003e] ksys_write+0x78/0x12c\\n[ 1362.232164] [\u003c80014504\u003e] syscall_common+0x34/0x58\\n\\nHere LEDS_TRIGGER_NETDEV is being enabled on an LED. It first takes\\ntriggers_list_lock and then RTNL. A classical AB-BA deadlock.\\n\\nphy_led_triggers_registers() does not require the RTNL, it does not\\nmake any calls into the network stack which require protection. There\\nis also no requirement the PHY has been attached to a MAC, the\\ntriggers only make use of phydev state. This allows the call to\\nphy_led_triggers_registers() to be placed elsewhere. PHY probe() and\\nrelease() don\u0027t hold RTNL, so solving the AB-BA deadlock.\"}],\"metrics\":{},\"references\":[{\"url\":\"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/241cd64cf2e32b28ead151b1795cd8fef2b6e482\",\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\"},{\"url\":\"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2764dcb3c35de4410f642afc62cf979727470575\",\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\"},{\"url\":\"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c33523b8fd2d4c504ada18cd93f511f2a8f84217\",\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\"},{\"url\":\"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c6ffc2d2338d325e1edd0c702e3ee623aa5fdc6a\",\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\"},{\"url\":\"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c8dbdc6e380e7e96a51706db3e4b7870d8a9402d\",\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\"},{\"url\":\"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cde2d0b5ab5d03b5b6f17d4f654d8b30ccf36757\",\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\"}]}}"
  }
}


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