CVE-2025-39782: linux kernel vulnerability

What is known

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: jbd2: prevent softlockup in jbd2_log_do_checkpoint() Both jbd2_log_do_checkpoint() and jbd2_journal_shrink_checkpoint_list() periodically release j_list_lock after processing a batch of buffers to avoid long hold times on the j_list_lock. However, since both functions contend for j_list_lock, the combined time spent waiting and processing can be significant. jbd2_journal_shrink_checkpoint_list() explicitly calls cond_resched() when need_resched() is true to avoid softlockups during prolonged operations. But jbd2_log_do_checkpoint() only exits its loop when need_resched() is true, relying on potentially sleeping functions like __flush_batch() or wait_on_buffer() to trigger rescheduling. If those functions do not sleep, the kernel may hit a softlockup. watchdog: BUG: soft lockup - CPU#3 stuck for 156s! [kworker/u129:2:373] CPU: 3 PID: 373 Comm: kworker/u129:2 Kdump: loaded Not tainted 6.6.0+ #10 Hardware name: Huawei TaiShan 2280 /BC11SPCD, BIOS 1.27 06/13/2017 Workqueue: writeback wb_workfn (flush-7:2) pstate: 20000005 (nzCv daif -PAN -UAO -TCO -DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--) pc : native_queued_spin_lock_slowpath+0x358/0x418 lr : jbd2_log_do_checkpoint+0x31c/0x438 [jbd2] Call trace: native_queued_spin_lock_slowpath+0x358/0x418 jbd2_log_do_checkpoint+0x31c/0x438 [jbd2] __jbd2_log_wait_for_space+0xfc/0x2f8 [jbd2] add_transaction_credits+0x3bc/0x418 [jbd2] start_this_handle+0xf8/0x560 [jbd2] jbd2__journal_start+0x118/0x228 [jbd2] __ext4_journal_start_sb+0x110/0x188 [ext4] ext4_do_writepages+0x3dc/0x740 [ext4] ext4_writepages+0xa4/0x190 [ext4] do_writepages+0x94/0x228 __writeback_single_inode+0x48/0x318 writeback_sb_inodes+0x204/0x590 __writeback_inodes_wb+0x54/0xf8 wb_writeback+0x2cc/0x3d8 wb_do_writeback+0x2e0/0x2f8 wb_workfn+0x80/0x2a8 process_one_work+0x178/0x3e8 worker_thread+0x234/0x3b8 kthread+0xf0/0x108 ret_from_fork+0x10/0x20 So explicitly call cond_resched() in jbd2_log_do_checkpoint() to avoid softlockup.

Business impact

Successful exploitation of CVE-2025-39782, a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.5) affecting linux kernel, may affect the confidentiality, integrity or availability of the vulnerable environment. The exact impact depends on the installed version, exposed interfaces and deployment configuration.

Recommended administrator action

Confirm whether linux kernel is present and compare installed versions with the vendor advisory and NVD record. Apply the vendor patch or documented mitigation; until remediation is complete, reduce exposure of affected interfaces, review relevant logs and monitor for indicators of exploitation. DataHouse can support version verification, managed patching, network exposure reduction, log review and backup validation for dedicated, cloud and colocated environments.

Sources

• NVD
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