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CVE Record

CVE-2025-68807: block: fix race between wbt_enable_default and IO submission

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: block: fix race between wbt_enable_default and IO submission When wbt_enable_default() is moved out of queue freezing in elevator_change(), it can cause the wbt inflight counter to become negative (-1), leading to hung tasks in the writeback path. Tasks get stuck in wbt_wait() because the counter is in an inconsistent state. The issue occurs because wbt_enable_default() could race with IO submission, allowing the counter to be decremented before proper initialization. This manifests as: rq_wait[0]: inflight: -1 has_waiters: True rwb_enabled() checks the state, which can be updated exactly between wbt_wait() (rq_qos_throttle()) and wbt_track()(rq_qos_track()), then the inflight counter will become negative. And results in hung task warnings like: task:kworker/u24:39 state:D stack:0 pid:14767 Call Trace: rq_qos_wait+0xb4/0x150 wbt_wait+0xa9/0x100 __rq_qos_throttle+0x24/0x40 blk_mq_submit_bio+0x672/0x7b0 ... Fix this by: 1. Splitting wbt_enable_default() into: - __wbt_enable_default(): Returns true if wbt_init() should be called - wbt_enable_default(): Wrapper for existing callers (no init) - wbt_init_enable_default(): New function that checks and inits WBT 2. Using wbt_init_enable_default() in blk_register_queue() to ensure proper initialization during queue registration 3. Move wbt_init() out of wbt_enable_default() which is only for enabling disabled wbt from bfq and iocost, and wbt_init() isn't needed. Then the original lock warning can be avoided. 4. Removing the ELEVATOR_FLAG_ENABLE_WBT_ON_EXIT flag and its handling code since it's no longer needed This ensures WBT is properly initialized before any IO can be submitted, preventing the counter from going negative.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2025-68807 is a Linux kernel block-layer race condition that can leave writeback throttling counters inconsistent. The reported impact is hung tasks in the writeback path, which can degrade or stall affected systems. The bundle provides no CVSS score, CWE, or evidence of active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat this as an availability risk until vendor scoring clarifies severity. Prioritize systems where kernel hangs could affect production storage, databases, or customer-facing services. No source in the bundle supports emergency exploitation response.

Technical view

A race between wbt_enable_default() and I/O submission can decrement WBT inflight state before proper initialization. That can drive rq_wait inflight negative, causing tasks to block in wbt_wait(). The fix separates WBT enable and initialization paths and initializes WBT during queue registration before I/O submission.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to Linux kernels matching the affected version information in the CVE source bundle. Systems with heavy writeback or block I/O activity may be more likely to encounter symptoms, but the bundle does not define attacker reachability, privilege requirements, or distribution-specific affected packages.

Exploitation context

The source bundle marks KEV as false and provides no cited evidence of active exploitation or public weaponization. The described failure mode is a race causing kernel hung tasks, not a documented remote compromise path.

Researcher notes

Evidence is incomplete for exploitability, CVSS, CWE, and exact distribution impact. The root issue is initialization ordering in block writeback throttling. Research should focus on affected kernel lines, backport status, and whether local workload patterns can reliably trigger the hung-task condition.

Mitigation direction

  • Review Linux vendor advisories for your distribution and kernel package.
  • Prioritize kernels containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Schedule kernel updates for systems with critical storage workloads.
  • Monitor affected systems for hung task warnings in writeback paths.
  • Avoid inventing local workarounds without vendor confirmation.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers and appliances.
  • Compare running kernels against vendor advisories and fixed package versions.
  • Check kernel logs for wbt_wait or rq_qos_wait hung task traces.
  • Confirm whether referenced stable commits are present in your kernel source or package changelog.
  • Track remediation evidence in vulnerability management records.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
4

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

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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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
3Source links

Vulnerability timeline

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

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux78c271344b6f64ce24c845e54903e09928cf2061, 78c271344b6f64ce24c845e54903e09928cf2061unaffected
LinuxLinux6.16, 0, 6.18.3, 6.19affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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