CVE-2023-53760 scsi: ufs: core: mcq: Fix &hwq->cq_lock deadlock issue
A deadlock in the Linux kernel UFS driver can cause a system hang when error handling and interrupts contend for the same lock.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2023-53760?
CVE-2023-53760 is a denial of service vulnerability in Linux, published on 8 Dec 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
scsi: ufs: core: mcq: Fix &hwq->cq_lock deadlock issue
When ufshcd_err_handler() is executed, CQ event interrupt can enter waiting for the same lock. This can happen in ufshcd_handle_mcq_cq_events() and also in ufs_mtk_mcq_intr(). The following warning message will be generated when &hwq->cq_lock is used in IRQ context with IRQ enabled. Use ufshcd_mcq_poll_cqe_lock() with spin_lock_irqsave instead of spin_lock to resolve the deadlock issue.
[name:lockdep&]WARNING: inconsistent lock state [name:lockdep&]-------------------------------- [name:lockdep&]inconsistent {IN-HARDIRQ-W} -> {HARDIRQ-ON-W} usage. [name:lockdep&]kworker/u16:4/260 [HC0[0]:SC0[0]:HE1:SE1] takes: ffffff8028444600 (&hwq->cq_lock){?.-.}-{2:2}, at: ufshcd_mcq_poll_cqe_lock+0x30/0xe0 [name:lockdep&]{IN-HARDIRQ-W} state was registered at: lock_acquire+0x17c/0x33c _raw_spin_lock+0x5c/0x7c ufshcd_mcq_poll_cqe_lock+0x30/0xe0 ufs_mtk_mcq_intr+0x60/0x1bc [ufs_mediatek_mod] __handle_irq_event_percpu+0x140/0x3ec handle_irq_event+0x50/0xd8 handle_fasteoi_irq+0x148/0x2b0 generic_handle_domain_irq+0x4c/0x6c gic_handle_irq+0x58/0x134 call_on_irq_stack+0x40/0x74 do_interrupt_handler+0x84/0xe4 el1_interrupt+0x3c/0x78 <snip>
Possible unsafe locking scenario: CPU0 ---- lock(&hwq->cq_lock); <Interrupt> lock(&hwq->cq_lock); *** DEADLOCK *** 2 locks held by kworker/u16:4/260:
[name:lockdep&] stack backtrace: CPU: 7 PID: 260 Comm: kworker/u16:4 Tainted: G S W OE 6.1.17-mainline-android14-2-g277223301adb #1 Workqueue: ufs_eh_wq_0 ufshcd_err_handler
Call trace: dump_backtrace+0x10c/0x160 show_stack+0x20/0x30 dump_stack_lvl+0x98/0xd8 dump_stack+0x20/0x60 print_usage_bug+0x584/0x76c mark_lock_irq+0x488/0x510 mark_lock+0x1ec/0x25c __lock_acquire+0x4d8/0xffc lock_acquire+0x17c/0x33c _raw_spin_lock+0x5c/0x7c ufshcd_mcq_poll_cqe_lock+0x30/0xe0 ufshcd_poll+0x68/0x1b0 ufshcd_transfer_req_compl+0x9c/0xc8 ufshcd_err_handler+0x3bc/0xea0 process_one_work+0x2f4/0x7e8 worker_thread+0x234/0x450 kthread+0x110/0x134 ret_from_fork+0x10/0x20
Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-53760?
How do I fix CVE-2023-53760?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade, then put limits on request size, rate and nesting depth so one client cannot exhaust the service. More about Denial of service.
Is CVE-2023-53760 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-53760 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2023-53760, GHSA-6mjv-x284-3fg6, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53760.