Kernel hang via recursive callback lock acquisition
Published Feb 14, 2026 · Updated Feb 14, 2026
Deadlock in nvmet-tcp in Linux Kernel allows local users to hang the kernel by closing a listening NVMe/TCP target socket. The close callback invokes nvmet_tcp_listen_data_ready while sk_callback_lock is held, and the function attempts to acquire the same lock again. Administrative local access and an active NVMe/TCP target listener are required; the resulting deadlock interrupts service without reported data access or modification.
Summary
What happened
Deadlock in nvmet-tcp in Linux Kernel allows local users to hang the kernel by closing a listening NVMe/TCP target socket. The close callback invokes nvmet_tcp_listen_data_ready while sk_callback_lock is held, and the function attempts to acquire the same lock again. Administrative local access and an active NVMe/TCP target listener are required; the resulting deadlock interrupts service without reported data access or modification.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-23179
- Published
- Feb 14, 2026
- Updated
- Feb 14, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux Kernel
- Classifications
- T1499
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- admin
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 14, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 14, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
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- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <1c90f930e7b410dd2d75a2a19a85e19c64e98ad5
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <2fa8961d3a6a1c2395d8d560ffed2c782681bade
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <6e0c7503a5803d568d56a9f9bca662cd94a14908
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <f532b29b0e313f42b964014038b0f52899b240ec
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Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
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Your stack
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