CVE-2026-23110

scsi: core: Wake up the error handler when final completions race against each other

Published Feb 4, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 4.7 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

scsi: core: Wake up the error handler when final completions race against each other

The fragile ordering between marking commands completed or failed so
that the error handler only wakes when the last running command
completes or times out has race conditions. These race conditions can
cause the SCSI layer to fail to wake the error handler, leaving I/O
through the SCSI host stuck as the error state cannot advance.

First, there is an memory ordering issue within scsi_dec_host_busy().
The write which clears SCMD_STATE_INFLIGHT may be reordered with reads
counting in scsi_host_busy(). While the local CPU will see its own
write, reordering can allow other CPUs in scsi_dec_host_busy() or
scsi_eh_inc_host_failed() to see a raised busy count, causing no CPU to
see a host busy equal to the host_failed count.

This race condition can be prevented with a memory barrier on the error
path to force the write to be visible before counting host busy
commands.

Second, there is a general ordering issue with scsi_eh_inc_host_failed(). By
counting busy commands before incrementing host_failed, it can race with a
final command in scsi_dec_host_busy(), such that scsi_dec_host_busy() does
not see host_failed incremented but scsi_eh_inc_host_failed() counts busy
commands before SCMD_STATE_INFLIGHT is cleared by scsi_dec_host_busy(),
resulting in neither waking the error handler task.

This needs the call to scsi_host_busy() to be moved after host_failed is
incremented to close the race condition.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4475-1 linux security update
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4476-1 linux-6.1 security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6126-1 linux security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6127-1 linux security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8278-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8289-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8296-1 Linux kernel (FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8296-2 Linux kernel (NVIDIA Tegra) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8278-2 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8440-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8499-1 Linux kernel (Xilinx) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8570-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8594-1 Linux kernel (OEM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8604-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8605-1 Linux kernel (Azure CVM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8570-2 Linux kernel (Oracle) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8289-2 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8393-1 Linux kernel (Azure FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8669-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-362
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:*
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 4.7, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Low

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: scsi: core: Wake up the error handler when final completions race against each other The fragile ordering between marking commands completed or failed so that the error handler only wakes when the last running command completes or times out has race conditions. These race conditions can cause the SCSI layer to fail to wake the error handler, leaving I/O through the SCSI host stuck as the error state cannot advance. First, there is an memory ordering issue within scsi_dec_host_busy(). The write which clears SCMD_STATE_INFLIGHT may be reordered with reads counting in scsi_host_busy(). While the local CPU will see its own write, reordering can allow other CPUs in scsi_dec_host_busy() or scsi_eh_inc_host_failed() to see a raised busy count, causing no CPU to see a host busy equal to the host_failed count. This race condition can be prevented with a memory barrier on the error path to force the write to be visible before counting host busy commands. Second, there is a general ordering issue with scsi_eh_inc_host_failed(). By counting busy commands before incrementing host_failed, it can race with a final command in scsi_dec_host_busy(), such that scsi_dec_host_busy() does not see host_failed incremented but scsi_eh_inc_host_failed() counts busy commands before SCMD_STATE_INFLIGHT is cleared by scsi_dec_host_busy(), resulting in neither waking the error handler task. This needs the call to scsi_host_busy() to be moved after host_failed is incremented to close the race condition.
Title scsi: core: Wake up the error handler when final completions race against each other
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Nov 10, 2026, 12:41 PM
Reserved
Jan 13, 2026, 3:37 PM
Status
Modified
Published
Feb 4, 2026, 5:16 PM
Modified
Nov 10, 2026, 1:18 PM
Severity
Low
Public date
Feb 4, 2026, 12:00 AM