CVE-2026-90190 null_blk: use DEFINE_MUTEX for the file-scope mutex
A race condition in the Linux kernel null_blk driver allows local attackers to trigger a kernel warning and potential denial of service by racing mkdir operations.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-90190?
CVE-2026-90190 is a vulnerability in Linux, published on 17 Sep 2026. 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:
null_blk: use DEFINE_MUTEX for the file-scope mutex
In null_init(), mutex_init(&lock) currently happens after configfs_register_subsystem(), which exposes the nullb subsystem to userspace. A racing mkdir() into /sys/kernel/config/nullb/ can reach null_find_dev_by_name() -> mutex_lock(&lock) before the mutex is initialized, trigger warning:
[ 123.137788] DEBUG_LOCKS_WARN_ON(lock->magic != lock) [ 123.137796] WARNING: kernel/locking/mutex.c:159 at mutex_lock+0x171/0x1c0, CPU#13: mkdir/1301 [ 123.140090] Modules linked in: null_blk(+) nft_fib_inet nft_fib_ipv4 ...... [ 123.154926] Call Trace: [ 123.155172] <TASK> [ 123.155419] ? __pfx_mutex_lock+0x10/0x10 [ 123.156181] ? __pfx__raw_spin_lock+0x10/0x10 [ 123.156571] nullb_group_make_group+0x20/0x100 [null_blk] [ 123.157011] configfs_mkdir+0x47b/0xc70 [ 123.157337] ? __pfx_configfs_mkdir+0x10/0x10 [ 123.157719] ? may_create_dentry+0x242/0x2e0 [ 123.158061] vfs_mkdir+0x2a9/0x6c0 [ 123.158352] filename_mkdirat+0x3dc/0x500 [ 123.158710] ? __pfx_filename_mkdirat+0x10/0x10 [ 123.159070] ? strncpy_from_user+0x3a/0x1d0 [ 123.159413] __x64_sys_mkdir+0x6b/0x90 [ 123.159760] do_syscall_64+0xea/0x600
Replace the runtime mutex_init(&lock) with a static DEFINE_MUTEX(lock) declaration to fix this issue.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-90190?
How do I fix CVE-2026-90190?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Is CVE-2026-90190 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-90190 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as AZL-102345, BELL-CVE-2026-90190, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-90190, GHSA-4pj7-mfrc-7j5j, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-90190.