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CVE Record

CVE-2022-49540: rcu-tasks: Fix race in schedule and flush work

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: rcu-tasks: Fix race in schedule and flush work While booting secondary CPUs, cpus_read_[lock/unlock] is not keeping online cpumask stable. The transient online mask results in below calltrace. [ 0.324121] CPU1: Booted secondary processor 0x0000000001 [0x410fd083] [ 0.346652] Detected PIPT I-cache on CPU2 [ 0.347212] CPU2: Booted secondary processor 0x0000000002 [0x410fd083] [ 0.377255] Detected PIPT I-cache on CPU3 [ 0.377823] CPU3: Booted secondary processor 0x0000000003 [0x410fd083] [ 0.379040] ------------[ cut here ]------------ [ 0.383662] WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 10 at kernel/workqueue.c:3084 __flush_work+0x12c/0x138 [ 0.384850] Modules linked in: [ 0.385403] CPU: 0 PID: 10 Comm: rcu_tasks_rude_ Not tainted 5.17.0-rc3-v8+ #13 [ 0.386473] Hardware name: Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Rev 1.4 (DT) [ 0.387289] pstate: 20000005 (nzCv daif -PAN -UAO -TCO -DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--) [ 0.388308] pc : __flush_work+0x12c/0x138 [ 0.388970] lr : __flush_work+0x80/0x138 [ 0.389620] sp : ffffffc00aaf3c60 [ 0.390139] x29: ffffffc00aaf3d20 x28: ffffffc009c16af0 x27: ffffff80f761df48 [ 0.391316] x26: 0000000000000004 x25: 0000000000000003 x24: 0000000000000100 [ 0.392493] x23: ffffffffffffffff x22: ffffffc009c16b10 x21: ffffffc009c16b28 [ 0.393668] x20: ffffffc009e53861 x19: ffffff80f77fbf40 x18: 00000000d744fcc9 [ 0.394842] x17: 000000000000000b x16: 00000000000001c2 x15: ffffffc009e57550 [ 0.396016] x14: 0000000000000000 x13: ffffffffffffffff x12: 0000000100000000 [ 0.397190] x11: 0000000000000462 x10: ffffff8040258008 x9 : 0000000100000000 [ 0.398364] x8 : 0000000000000000 x7 : ffffffc0093c8bf4 x6 : 0000000000000000 [ 0.399538] x5 : 0000000000000000 x4 : ffffffc00a976e40 x3 : ffffffc00810444c [ 0.400711] x2 : 0000000000000004 x1 : 0000000000000000 x0 : 0000000000000000 [ 0.401886] Call trace: [ 0.402309] __flush_work+0x12c/0x138 [ 0.402941] schedule_on_each_cpu+0x228/0x278 [ 0.403693] rcu_tasks_rude_wait_gp+0x130/0x144 [ 0.404502] rcu_tasks_kthread+0x220/0x254 [ 0.405264] kthread+0x174/0x1ac [ 0.405837] ret_from_fork+0x10/0x20 [ 0.406456] irq event stamp: 102 [ 0.406966] hardirqs last enabled at (101): [<ffffffc0093c8468>] _raw_spin_unlock_irq+0x78/0xb4 [ 0.408304] hardirqs last disabled at (102): [<ffffffc0093b8270>] el1_dbg+0x24/0x5c [ 0.409410] softirqs last enabled at (54): [<ffffffc0081b80c8>] local_bh_enable+0xc/0x2c [ 0.410645] softirqs last disabled at (50): [<ffffffc0081b809c>] local_bh_disable+0xc/0x2c [ 0.411890] ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]--- [ 0.413000] smp: Brought up 1 node, 4 CPUs [ 0.413762] SMP: Total of 4 processors activated. [ 0.414566] CPU features: detected: 32-bit EL0 Support [ 0.415414] CPU features: detected: 32-bit EL1 Support [ 0.416278] CPU features: detected: CRC32 instructions [ 0.447021] Callback from call_rcu_tasks_rude() invoked. [ 0.506693] Callback from call_rcu_tasks() invoked. This commit therefore fixes this issue by applying a single-CPU optimization to the RCU Tasks Rude grace-period process. The key point here is that the purpose of this RCU flavor is to force a schedule on each online CPU since some past event. But the rcu_tasks_rude_wait_gp() function runs in the context of the RCU Tasks Rude's grace-period kthread, so there must already have been a context switch on the current CPU since the call to either synchronize_rcu_tasks_rude() or call_rcu_tasks_rude(). So if there is only a single CPU online, RCU Tasks Rude's grace-period kthread does not need to anything at all. It turns out that the rcu_tasks_rude_wait_gp() function's call to schedule_on_each_cpu() causes problems during early boot. During that time, there is only one online CPU, namely the boot CPU. Therefore, applying this single-CPU optimization fixes early-boot instances of this problem.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2022-49540 is a Linux kernel race condition in early CPU startup handling. The reported symptom is a kernel warning during boot, not a described remote compromise. Business urgency is mainly operational: ensure Linux kernels are updated through normal vendor channels, especially for systems where boot reliability matters.

Executive priority

Treat as routine kernel maintenance unless affected systems show boot instability. There is no cited evidence of active exploitation or remote attack capability in the provided sources.

Technical view

The issue is in Linux RCU Tasks Rude grace-period handling. During secondary CPU boot, cpus_read_lock/unlock may not keep the online CPU mask stable, and schedule_on_each_cpu() can trigger a workqueue flush warning. The fix applies a single-CPU optimization to avoid unnecessary scheduling during early boot.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to Linux systems running affected kernel builds. The source lists Linux kernel version data and stable kernel commits, but distro-specific affected package mappings are not provided.

Exploitation context

No active exploitation is indicated. The source bundle says KEV is false, and the public description shows a boot-time race and warning rather than an attacker-driven exploit path.

Researcher notes

Public data lacks CVSS, CWE, and distro package details. The issue appears tied to early boot CPU online-mask behavior and RCU Tasks Rude scheduling. Validate through kernel version lineage and presence of stable commits rather than assuming all Linux deployments are affected.

Mitigation direction

  • Check Linux vendor or distribution advisories for CVE-2022-49540.
  • Update to a kernel package containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Prioritize systems where boot stability and automated recovery are critical.
  • Track embedded or appliance kernels separately from general server patching.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory deployed Linux kernel versions across servers, endpoints, and embedded systems.
  • Map kernel packages to vendor guidance for CVE-2022-49540.
  • Review boot logs for RCU Tasks Rude or workqueue flush warnings.
  • Confirm kernel changelogs include the referenced stable fix commits.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
7

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
0ADP providers
6Source links

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

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  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

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Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxc84aad765406c4c7573ce449e8a9977ebb8f4cb9, c84aad765406c4c7573ce449e8a9977ebb8f4cb9, c84aad765406c4c7573ce449e8a9977ebb8f4cb9, c84aad765406c4c7573ce449e8a9977ebb8f4cb9, c84aad765406c4c7573ce449e8a9977ebb8f4cb9unaffected
LinuxLinux5.8, 0, 5.10.121, 5.15.46, 5.17.14, 5.18.3, 5.19affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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