Kernel hard hang via interleaved core picks
Published Sep 11, 2026 · Updated Sep 11, 2026
Race condition in sched_ext core scheduling in Linux 6.19 allows local users to hard-hang the kernel with a cookied ping-pong workload. During pick_next_task(), sched_ext dispatch can drop the shared runqueue lock, allowing sibling selections to interleave and clear rq->core_pick or leave a dequeued task running. The hang requires SMT, an active sched_ext scheduler, and core-scheduling cookies; the reported reproducer stops every CPU and requires a hardware reset.
Summary
What happened
Race condition in sched_ext core scheduling in Linux 6.19 allows local users to hard-hang the kernel with a cookied ping-pong workload. During pick_next_task(), sched_ext dispatch can drop the shared runqueue lock, allowing sibling selections to interleave and clear rq->core_pick or leave a dequeued task running. The hang requires SMT, an active sched_ext scheduler, and core-scheduling cookies; the reported reproducer stops every CPU and requires a hardware reset.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-89517
- Published
- Sep 11, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 11, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1499.004
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 11, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Sep 11, 2026Record 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=4c95380701f58b8112f0b891de8d160e4199e19d <cdafb68155bee2d5c4e50c12e4606323e9334e6b
- Affected versionversion=4c95380701f58b8112f0b891de8d160e4199e19d <d954004205c1a1d3f59ce8482b559266c15600fa
- Affected versionversion=6.19
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Core-scheduling cookie host-deadlock reproducerproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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