CVE-2025-71194 btrfs: fix deadlock in wait_current_trans() due to ignored transaction type
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

btrfs: fix deadlock in wait_current_trans() due to ignored transaction type

When wait_current_trans() is called during start_transaction(), it
currently waits for a blocked transaction without considering whether
the given transaction type actually needs to wait for that particular
transaction state. The btrfs_blocked_trans_types[] array already defines
which transaction types should wait for which transaction states, but
this check was missing in wait_current_trans().

This can lead to a deadlock scenario involving two transactions and
pending ordered extents:

  1. Transaction A is in TRANS_STATE_COMMIT_DOING state

  2. A worker processing an ordered extent calls start_transaction()
     with TRANS_JOIN

  3. join_transaction() returns -EBUSY because Transaction A is in
     TRANS_STATE_COMMIT_DOING

  4. Transaction A moves to TRANS_STATE_UNBLOCKED and completes

  5. A new Transaction B is created (TRANS_STATE_RUNNING)

  6. The ordered extent from step 2 is added to Transaction B's
     pending ordered extents

  7. Transaction B immediately starts commit by another task and
     enters TRANS_STATE_COMMIT_START

  8. The worker finally reaches wait_current_trans(), sees Transaction B
     in TRANS_STATE_COMMIT_START (a blocked state), and waits
     unconditionally

  9. However, TRANS_JOIN should NOT wait for TRANS_STATE_COMMIT_START
     according to btrfs_blocked_trans_types[]

  10. Transaction B is waiting for pending ordered extents to complete

  11. Deadlock: Transaction B waits for ordered extent, ordered extent
      waits for Transaction B

This can be illustrated by the following call stacks:
  CPU0                              CPU1
                                    btrfs_finish_ordered_io()
                                      start_transaction(TRANS_JOIN)
                                        join_transaction()
                                          # -EBUSY (Transaction A is
                                          # TRANS_STATE_COMMIT_DOING)
  # Transaction A completes
  # Transaction B created
  # ordered extent added to
  # Transaction B's pending list
  btrfs_commit_transaction()
    # Transaction B enters
    # TRANS_STATE_COMMIT_START
    # waiting for pending ordered
    # extents
                                        wait_current_trans()
                                          # waits for Transaction B
                                          # (should not wait!)

Task bstore_kv_sync in btrfs_commit_transaction waiting for ordered
extents:

  __schedule+0x2e7/0x8a0
  schedule+0x64/0xe0
  btrfs_commit_transaction+0xbf7/0xda0 [btrfs]
  btrfs_sync_file+0x342/0x4d0 [btrfs]
  __x64_sys_fdatasync+0x4b/0x80
  do_syscall_64+0x33/0x40
  entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x44/0xa9

Task kworker in wait_current_trans waiting for transaction commit:

  Workqueue: btrfs-syno_nocow btrfs_work_helper [btrfs]
  __schedule+0x2e7/0x8a0
  schedule+0x64/0xe0
  wait_current_trans+0xb0/0x110 [btrfs]
  start_transaction+0x346/0x5b0 [btrfs]
  btrfs_finish_ordered_io.isra.0+0x49b/0x9c0 [btrfs]
  btrfs_work_helper+0xe8/0x350 [btrfs]
  process_one_work+0x1d3/0x3c0
  worker_thread+0x4d/0x3e0
  kthread+0x12d/0x150
  ret_from_fork+0x1f/0x30

Fix this by passing the transaction type to wait_current_trans() and
checking btrfs_blocked_trans_types[cur_trans->state] against the given
type before deciding to wait. This ensures that transaction types which
are allowed to join during certain blocked states will not unnecessarily
wait and cause deadlocks.
Affected products: vendor: Linux
product: Linux
default_status: unaffected
vendor: Linux
product: Linux
default_status: affected
Published: 2026-02-04T16:04:15.389Z