Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

KVM: Use dedicated mutex to protect kvm_usage_count to avoid deadlock

Use a dedicated mutex to guard kvm_usage_count to fix a potential deadlock
on x86 due to a chain of locks and SRCU synchronizations. Translating the
below lockdep splat, CPU1 #6 will wait on CPU0 #1, CPU0 #8 will wait on
CPU2 #3, and CPU2 #7 will wait on CPU1 #4 (if there's a writer, due to the
fairness of r/w semaphores).

CPU0 CPU1 CPU2
1 lock(&kvm->slots_lock);
2 lock(&vcpu->mutex);
3 lock(&kvm->srcu);
4 lock(cpu_hotplug_lock);
5 lock(kvm_lock);
6 lock(&kvm->slots_lock);
7 lock(cpu_hotplug_lock);
8 sync(&kvm->srcu);

Note, there are likely more potential deadlocks in KVM x86, e.g. the same
pattern of taking cpu_hotplug_lock outside of kvm_lock likely exists with
__kvmclock_cpufreq_notifier():

cpuhp_cpufreq_online()
|
-> cpufreq_online()
|
-> cpufreq_gov_performance_limits()
|
-> __cpufreq_driver_target()
|
-> __target_index()
|
-> cpufreq_freq_transition_begin()
|
-> cpufreq_notify_transition()
|
-> ... __kvmclock_cpufreq_notifier()

But, actually triggering such deadlocks is beyond rare due to the
combination of dependencies and timings involved. E.g. the cpufreq
notifier is only used on older CPUs without a constant TSC, mucking with
the NX hugepage mitigation while VMs are running is very uncommon, and
doing so while also onlining/offlining a CPU (necessary to generate
contention on cpu_hotplug_lock) would be even more unusual.

The most robust solution to the general cpu_hotplug_lock issue is likely
to switch vm_list to be an RCU-protected list, e.g. so that x86's cpufreq
notifier doesn't to take kvm_lock. For now, settle for fixing the most
blatant deadlock, as switching to an RCU-protected list is a much more
involved change, but add a comment in locking.rst to call out that care
needs to be taken when walking holding kvm_lock and walking vm_list.

======================================================
WARNING: possible circular locking dependency detected
6.10.0-smp--c257535a0c9d-pip #330 Tainted: G S O
------------------------------------------------------
tee/35048 is trying to acquire lock:
ff6a80eced71e0a8 (&kvm->slots_lock){+.+.}-{3:3}, at: set_nx_huge_pages+0x179/0x1e0 [kvm]

but task is already holding lock:
ffffffffc07abb08 (kvm_lock){+.+.}-{3:3}, at: set_nx_huge_pages+0x14a/0x1e0 [kvm]

which lock already depends on the new lock.

the existing dependency chain (in reverse order) is:

-> #3 (kvm_lock){+.+.}-{3:3}:
__mutex_lock+0x6a/0xb40
mutex_lock_nested+0x1f/0x30
kvm_dev_ioctl+0x4fb/0xe50 [kvm]
__se_sys_ioctl+0x7b/0xd0
__x64_sys_ioctl+0x21/0x30
x64_sys_call+0x15d0/0x2e60
do_syscall_64+0x83/0x160
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e

-> #2 (cpu_hotplug_lock){++++}-{0:0}:
cpus_read_lock+0x2e/0xb0
static_key_slow_inc+0x16/0x30
kvm_lapic_set_base+0x6a/0x1c0 [kvm]
kvm_set_apic_base+0x8f/0xe0 [kvm]
kvm_set_msr_common+0x9ae/0xf80 [kvm]
vmx_set_msr+0xa54/0xbe0 [kvm_intel]
__kvm_set_msr+0xb6/0x1a0 [kvm]
kvm_arch_vcpu_ioctl+0xeca/0x10c0 [kvm]
kvm_vcpu_ioctl+0x485/0x5b0 [kvm]
__se_sys_ioctl+0x7b/0xd0
__x64_sys_ioctl+0x21/0x30
x64_sys_call+0x15d0/0x2e60
do_syscall_64+0x83/0x160
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e

-> #1 (&kvm->srcu){.+.+}-{0:0}:
__synchronize_srcu+0x44/0x1a0

---truncated---
Published: 2024-10-21
Score: 5.5 Medium
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

Analysis and contextual insights are available on OpenCVE Cloud.

Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

Additional remediation guidance may be available on OpenCVE Cloud.

Tracking

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Advisories
Source ID Title
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7276-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7277-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7301-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7303-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7303-2 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7303-3 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7304-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7310-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7311-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7384-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7384-2 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7385-1 Linux kernel (IBM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7386-1 Linux kernel (OEM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7403-1 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
History

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Weaknesses CWE-667
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 01:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

 cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 13:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 12:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: Use dedicated mutex to protect kvm_usage_count to avoid deadlock Use a dedicated mutex to guard kvm_usage_count to fix a potential deadlock on x86 due to a chain of locks and SRCU synchronizations. Translating the below lockdep splat, CPU1 #6 will wait on CPU0 #1, CPU0 #8 will wait on CPU2 #3, and CPU2 #7 will wait on CPU1 #4 (if there's a writer, due to the fairness of r/w semaphores). CPU0 CPU1 CPU2 1 lock(&kvm->slots_lock); 2 lock(&vcpu->mutex); 3 lock(&kvm->srcu); 4 lock(cpu_hotplug_lock); 5 lock(kvm_lock); 6 lock(&kvm->slots_lock); 7 lock(cpu_hotplug_lock); 8 sync(&kvm->srcu); Note, there are likely more potential deadlocks in KVM x86, e.g. the same pattern of taking cpu_hotplug_lock outside of kvm_lock likely exists with __kvmclock_cpufreq_notifier(): cpuhp_cpufreq_online() | -> cpufreq_online() | -> cpufreq_gov_performance_limits() | -> __cpufreq_driver_target() | -> __target_index() | -> cpufreq_freq_transition_begin() | -> cpufreq_notify_transition() | -> ... __kvmclock_cpufreq_notifier() But, actually triggering such deadlocks is beyond rare due to the combination of dependencies and timings involved. E.g. the cpufreq notifier is only used on older CPUs without a constant TSC, mucking with the NX hugepage mitigation while VMs are running is very uncommon, and doing so while also onlining/offlining a CPU (necessary to generate contention on cpu_hotplug_lock) would be even more unusual. The most robust solution to the general cpu_hotplug_lock issue is likely to switch vm_list to be an RCU-protected list, e.g. so that x86's cpufreq notifier doesn't to take kvm_lock. For now, settle for fixing the most blatant deadlock, as switching to an RCU-protected list is a much more involved change, but add a comment in locking.rst to call out that care needs to be taken when walking holding kvm_lock and walking vm_list. ====================================================== WARNING: possible circular locking dependency detected 6.10.0-smp--c257535a0c9d-pip #330 Tainted: G S O ------------------------------------------------------ tee/35048 is trying to acquire lock: ff6a80eced71e0a8 (&kvm->slots_lock){+.+.}-{3:3}, at: set_nx_huge_pages+0x179/0x1e0 [kvm] but task is already holding lock: ffffffffc07abb08 (kvm_lock){+.+.}-{3:3}, at: set_nx_huge_pages+0x14a/0x1e0 [kvm] which lock already depends on the new lock. the existing dependency chain (in reverse order) is: -> #3 (kvm_lock){+.+.}-{3:3}: __mutex_lock+0x6a/0xb40 mutex_lock_nested+0x1f/0x30 kvm_dev_ioctl+0x4fb/0xe50 [kvm] __se_sys_ioctl+0x7b/0xd0 __x64_sys_ioctl+0x21/0x30 x64_sys_call+0x15d0/0x2e60 do_syscall_64+0x83/0x160 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e -> #2 (cpu_hotplug_lock){++++}-{0:0}: cpus_read_lock+0x2e/0xb0 static_key_slow_inc+0x16/0x30 kvm_lapic_set_base+0x6a/0x1c0 [kvm] kvm_set_apic_base+0x8f/0xe0 [kvm] kvm_set_msr_common+0x9ae/0xf80 [kvm] vmx_set_msr+0xa54/0xbe0 [kvm_intel] __kvm_set_msr+0xb6/0x1a0 [kvm] kvm_arch_vcpu_ioctl+0xeca/0x10c0 [kvm] kvm_vcpu_ioctl+0x485/0x5b0 [kvm] __se_sys_ioctl+0x7b/0xd0 __x64_sys_ioctl+0x21/0x30 x64_sys_call+0x15d0/0x2e60 do_syscall_64+0x83/0x160 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e -> #1 (&kvm->srcu){.+.+}-{0:0}: __synchronize_srcu+0x44/0x1a0 ---truncated---
Title KVM: Use dedicated mutex to protect kvm_usage_count to avoid deadlock
References

Subscriptions

Linux Linux Kernel
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-05-11T20:39:55.140Z

Reserved: 2024-09-30T16:00:12.960Z

Link: CVE-2024-47744

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2024-10-21T12:58:51.867Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Analyzed

Published: 2024-10-21T13:15:04.480

Modified: 2024-10-22T15:44:40.393

Link: CVE-2024-47744

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Moderate

Publid Date: 2024-10-21T00:00:00Z

Links: CVE-2024-47744 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.

Weaknesses