Kernel availability loss via dead-task class switching
Published Sep 11, 2025 · Updated Sep 11, 2025
Invalid task-state transitions in Linux 6.12 through 6.12.43 and 6.13 through 6.16.3 allow local users to disrupt kernel availability. The sched_ext class-switch path skips initialization for dead tasks but still passes them through switching_to_scx(), causing scx_set_task_state() to process an invalid 0-to-3 transition. Low-privilege local access to activate a sched_ext scheduler is required; repeated activation can trigger kernel warnings and availability loss.
Summary
What happened
Invalid task-state transitions in Linux 6.12 through 6.12.43 and 6.13 through 6.16.3 allow local users to disrupt kernel availability. The sched_ext class-switch path skips initialization for dead tasks but still passes them through switching_to_scx(), causing scx_set_task_state() to process an invalid 0-to-3 transition. Low-privilege local access to activate a sched_ext scheduler is required; repeated activation can trigger kernel warnings and availability loss.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-39780
- Published
- Sep 11, 2025
- Updated
- Sep 11, 2025
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- Unavailable
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 11, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Sep 11, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=6.12
- Affected versionversion=a8532fac7b5d27b8d62008a89593dccb6f9786ef <6a32cbe95029ebe21cc08349fd7ef2a3d32d2043
- Affected versionversion=a8532fac7b5d27b8d62008a89593dccb6f9786ef <786f6314604b34c3e7de5f733f4e08e35c448a50
- Affected versionversion=a8532fac7b5d27b8d62008a89593dccb6f9786ef <ddf7233fcab6c247379d0928d46cc316ee122229
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What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Weakness, pattern, technique
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Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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