CVE-2026-53153: mm/list_lru: drain before clearing xarray entry on reparent
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
mm/listlru: drain before clearing xarray entry on reparent
memcgreparentlistlrus() clears the dying memcg's xarray entry with xasstore(&xas, NULL) before reparenting its per-node lists into the parent. This opens a window where a concurrent listlrudel() arriving for the dying memcg sees xaload() == NULL, walks to the parent in locklistlruofmemcg(), takes the parent's per-node lock, and calls listdelinit() on an item still physically linked on the dying memcg's list.
If another in-flight thread holds the dying memcg's per-node lock at the same moment (another listlrudel, or a listlruwalkone running an isolate callback), both threads modify ->next/->prev pointers on the same physical list under different locks. Adjacent items can corrupt each other's links.
Fix it by reversing the order: reparent each per-node list and mark the child's list lru dead and then clear the xarray entry. Any concurrent listlru op that finds the still-set xarray entry either takes the dying memcg's per-node lock (synchronizing with the drain) or sees LONGMIN and walks to the parent, where the items now live.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
Linux kernelto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in LONG_MIN
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-53153?
CVE-2026-53153 has a risk rating of 47.
How do I fix CVE-2026-53153?
To mitigate CVE-2026-53153, update your Linux kernel to the latest patched version.
What systems are affected by CVE-2026-53153?
CVE-2026-53153 affects specific versions of the Linux kernel.
What is the impact of CVE-2026-53153?
CVE-2026-53153 could potentially lead to system instability due to improper memory management during reparenting.
When was CVE-2026-53153 published?
CVE-2026-53153 was published on June 25, 2026.