# 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.

- **Severity:** Not scored
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 8 Dec 2025
- **Updated:** 11 May 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2023-53760, GHSA-6mjv-x284-3fg6, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53760

## 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.

## Is CVE-2023-53760 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-53760 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-53760 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: 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.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-53760 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-53760/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-53760/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-53760
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-53760
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-53760

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-53760/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.