CVE-2026-90400

md: recheck spare changes before starting sync

Published Sep 17, 2026 CVSS n/a EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

md: recheck spare changes before starting sync

remove_spares() and remove_and_add_spares() modify the array's rdev
configuration. These operations are only safe after the array has been
suspended.

md_start_sync() checks whether spare configuration changes are needed
before taking reconfig_mutex. However, the rdev state can change before
the mutex is acquired, so the initial check can become stale. In that
case, md_choose_sync_action() may remove or replace rdevs while normal
I/O is still accessing them.

The race can occur as follows:

raid10d Worker Normal IO
____________ _______________________ ______________________

raid10_write_request()
wait_blocked_dev()
set Blocked
set Faulty
Skip Faulty rdev
rrdev->nr_pending++
.repl_bio = bio
removeable_rdev = false .
array not suspended .
lock mddev goto err_handle
lock mddev (wait)
.
update sb .
clear Blocked .
.
unlock mddev .
lock mddev (acquires)
remove_spares()
removeable_rdev = true

raid10_remove_disk()
rdev = replacement
replacement = NULL
rdev_dec_pending(NULL)
unlock mddev (NULL)->nr_pending--

In this case, rdev_dec_pending() is called with a NULL pointer,
resulting in a NULL pointer dereference when attempting to decrement
nr_pending.

Fix this by suspending the array when spare configuration changes are
needed, including for non-read-write arrays, and checking again after
taking reconfig_mutex. If the array was not already suspended and a
change is now needed, release the mutex, suspend the array, and
reacquire the mutex before continuing.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4817-1 linux-6.12 security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6528-1 linux security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9019-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9020-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9022-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9023-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9024-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9025-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9026-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9039-1 Linux kernel (Azure CVM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9040-1 Linux kernel (Low Latency NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9066-1 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9091-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA Tegra) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-368
CWE-476
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: md: recheck spare changes before starting sync remove_spares() and remove_and_add_spares() modify the array's rdev configuration. These operations are only safe after the array has been suspended. md_start_sync() checks whether spare configuration changes are needed before taking reconfig_mutex. However, the rdev state can change before the mutex is acquired, so the initial check can become stale. In that case, md_choose_sync_action() may remove or replace rdevs while normal I/O is still accessing them. The race can occur as follows: raid10d Worker Normal IO ____________ _______________________ ______________________ raid10_write_request() wait_blocked_dev() set Blocked set Faulty Skip Faulty rdev rrdev->nr_pending++ .repl_bio = bio removeable_rdev = false . array not suspended . lock mddev goto err_handle lock mddev (wait) . update sb . clear Blocked . . unlock mddev . lock mddev (acquires) remove_spares() removeable_rdev = true raid10_remove_disk() rdev = replacement replacement = NULL rdev_dec_pending(NULL) unlock mddev (NULL)->nr_pending-- In this case, rdev_dec_pending() is called with a NULL pointer, resulting in a NULL pointer dereference when attempting to decrement nr_pending. Fix this by suspending the array when spare configuration changes are needed, including for non-read-write arrays, and checking again after taking reconfig_mutex. If the array was not already suspended and a change is now needed, release the mutex, suspend the array, and reacquire the mutex before continuing.
Title md: recheck spare changes before starting sync
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
Oct 19, 2026, 9:03 AM
Reserved
Sep 11, 2026, 7:38 PM
Status
Received
Published
Sep 17, 2026, 5:17 PM
Modified
Oct 19, 2026, 9:19 AM