Race Condition Vulnerability in Linux Kernel Affecting Resource Management

CVE-2026-53265

What is CVE-2026-53265?

A vulnerability exists in the Linux kernel related to the dm cache policy 'smq', which can lead to a race condition due to improper locking mechanisms. This flaw arises when two concurrent invalidation processes incorrectly check the status of cache entries without adequate synchronization. The initial invocator may remove a cache entry while the second invocator operates on stale data, potentially resulting in corruption of cache structures and erratic system behavior. To mitigate this risk, it is critical to ensure that all allocation checks occur within the locked context, thus serializing access and maintaining system integrity.

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