CVE-2026-89667: nfsd: close shrinker/GC/fsnotify vs per-net shutdown race in filecache

Published Sep 11, 2026
·
Updated

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

nfsd: close shrinker/GC/fsnotify vs per-net shutdown race in filecache

The shrinker, GC worker, and fsnotify/lease callbacks can unhash an nfsdfile from the rhashtable and then call nfsdfiledisposelistdelayed() to move it to the per-net dispose list. If nfsdfilecacheshutdownnet() runs concurrently, its rhashtable walk misses the already-unhashed file, and its drain of the per-net dispose list can run before the file has been queued. The file then sits on the per-net list with no thread to drain it, leaking both the file and its associated state.

The GC worker and shrinker already hold nfsdgclock while walking the LRU, but in the original code they release it before calling nfsdfiledisposelistdelayed(). The fsnotify/lease path (nfsdfilecloseinode) has no synchronization at all.

Fix this by:

1. Widening nfsdgclock in both nfsdfilegc() and nfsdfilelruscan() to cover the nfsdfiledisposelistdelayed() call.

2. Wrapping nfsdfilecloseinode() in nfsdgclock so that all three callers of nfsdfiledisposelistdelayed() hold the lock.

3. Adding a spinlock/unlock(nfsdgclock) barrier in nfsdfilecacheshutdownnet() after the purge, so that any in-progress disposal has fully completed before the per-net list is drained.

All operations inside the lock are non-sleeping (rhashtable lookups, atomic bit/refcount ops, list moves, svcwakeup), so the spinlock is appropriate.

Affected Software

1 affected component
Linux Kernel

Event History

Sep 11, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·07:45 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·07:45 PM
Description

Frequently Asked Questions

1

Under what conditions can the leak occur?

The race requires an nfsd file to be unhashed and scheduled for delayed disposal while nfsd_file_cache_shutdown_net() is running concurrently. It can involve the shrinker, GC worker, or fsnotify/lease callback paths.

2

What is the impact if the race is triggered?

The affected nfsd file can be left on the per-network-namespace dispose list after its drain has already completed. This leaks the file and its associated state because no thread remains to drain that list.

3

What does the resolved change do to prevent the race?

The fix ensures all callers of nfsd_file_dispose_list_delayed() hold nfsd_gc_lock, including the fsnotify/lease path. It also adds locking around per-network shutdown to synchronize it with delayed disposal.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203