CVE-2026-89521

High

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sched/core: Handle pick_task() releasing the rq lock Core scheduling's pick_next_task() breaks when a ->pick_task() implementation can release the rq lock. The selection state derived on entry is only valid while the lock is held continuously. Once a pick can drop the lock, an interleaving selection can invalidate all of it: the single-CPU fast path can commit an uncookied pick although the core went cookied during the release, and forceidle committed by the interleaving selection skews the restarted pass's accounting. Fix it by restarting the whole selection when a pick returns RETRY_TASK after releasing the lock: a single restart point above the state derivation replaces the per-loop restart labels, so a retry picks up state committed by interleaving selections and accounts and resets forceidle like a fresh selection would. need_sync and fi_before latch across retries. Clock validity can't be re-derived - there is no program-ordered way to tell whether the own and core rq clocks are still updated after the lock was released, as other lockers' pin cycles may or may not have invalidated them. When restarting, clear core_clock_updated so that the sibling loop re-updates the core rq, and update the own rq clock if invalidated.

Package Linux Kernel
Published 2026-09-11
Last modified 2026-09-13
CVSS version 3.1
Patch available
Yes

CVSS 3.1 score

7.3

out of 10
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
Low
Availability
High
Vector string
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:H

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 6.19 and later are affected. Fixed in 7.2.4, 7.3-rc1 and their respective stable series.

Affected from
≥ 6.19
Fixed in
✓ 7.2.4 7.2.x ✓ 7.3-rc1

Frequently asked questions

  • What is CVE-2026-89521?

    CVE-2026-89521 is a High severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.3 out of 10 . It affects Linux kernel versions from 6.19 onward and has been patched in 7.2.4 and 7.3-rc1. CVE-2026-89521 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

  • What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-89521?

    CVE-2026-89521 has a CVSS score of 7.3 out of 10, rated High severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:H .

  • Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-89521?

    Yes. CVE-2026-89521 has been patched. Fixed versions include 7.2.4 and 7.3-rc1. If you are running Linux kernel 6.19 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

  • Is CVE-2026-89521 actively exploited?

    No. CVE-2026-89521 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.