CVE-2026-74731

sched_ext: Skip sub-disable teardown for never-linked sub-schedulers

Published Aug 22, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.8 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

sched_ext: Skip sub-disable teardown for never-linked sub-schedulers

A sub-scheduler enable can fail before scx_link_sched() links the sched into
the hierarchy, e.g. when the parent is already being disabled, and cleanup
still runs the full scx_sub_disable().

That is racy against root disable: drain_descendants() is the only ordering
between a sub's disable-time task walk and root disable's all-task teardown,
and an unlinked sub is invisible to it. Root's teardown can thus run between
the never-linked sub's drain and its walk, exiting every task to no
scheduler.

The walk then trips the membership WARN and re-homes the exited tasks onto
the dying hierarchy, a use-after-free.

Skip the cgroup ownership reset and the task walk if @sch was never linked,
indicated by the empty ->sibling as unlinking only happens later in the same
function. The membership WARN remains valid: a linked sub is always waited
on by an ancestor's drain.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

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History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-362
CWE-416
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-362
CWE-416
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-362
CWE-416
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-362
CWE-416
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sched_ext: Skip sub-disable teardown for never-linked sub-schedulers A sub-scheduler enable can fail before scx_link_sched() links the sched into the hierarchy, e.g. when the parent is already being disabled, and cleanup still runs the full scx_sub_disable(). That is racy against root disable: drain_descendants() is the only ordering between a sub's disable-time task walk and root disable's all-task teardown, and an unlinked sub is invisible to it. Root's teardown can thus run between the never-linked sub's drain and its walk, exiting every task to no scheduler. The walk then trips the membership WARN and re-homes the exited tasks onto the dying hierarchy, a use-after-free. Skip the cgroup ownership reset and the task walk if @sch was never linked, indicated by the empty ->sibling as unlinking only happens later in the same function. The membership WARN remains valid: a linked sub is always waited on by an ancestor's drain.
Title sched_ext: Skip sub-disable teardown for never-linked sub-schedulers
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
Aug 25, 2026, 5:42 AM
Reserved
Aug 15, 2026, 5:44 AM
Status
Received
Published
Aug 22, 2026, 4:16 PM
Modified
Oct 14, 2026, 1:10 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Aug 22, 2026, 12:00 AM