Upstream information
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:perf/x86: Move event pointer setup earlier in x86_pmu_enable()
A production AMD EPYC system crashed with a NULL pointer dereference
in the PMU NMI handler:
BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000198
RIP: x86_perf_event_update+0xc/0xa0
Call Trace:
<NMI>
amd_pmu_v2_handle_irq+0x1a6/0x390
perf_event_nmi_handler+0x24/0x40
The faulting instruction is `cmpq $0x0, 0x198(%rdi)` with RDI=0,
corresponding to the `if (unlikely(!hwc->event_base))` check in
x86_perf_event_update() where hwc = &event->hw and event is NULL.
drgn inspection of the vmcore on CPU 106 showed a mismatch between
cpuc->active_mask and cpuc->events[]:
active_mask: 0x1e (bits 1, 2, 3, 4)
events[1]: 0xff1100136cbd4f38 (valid)
events[2]: 0x0 (NULL, but active_mask bit 2 set)
events[3]: 0xff1100076fd2cf38 (valid)
events[4]: 0xff1100079e990a90 (valid)
The event that should occupy events[2] was found in event_list[2]
with hw.idx=2 and hw.state=0x0, confirming x86_pmu_start() had run
(which clears hw.state and sets active_mask) but events[2] was
never populated.
Another event (event_list[0]) had hw.state=0x7 (STOPPED|UPTODATE|ARCH),
showing it was stopped when the PMU rescheduled events, confirming the
throttle-then-reschedule sequence occurred.
The root cause is commit 7e772a93eb61 ("perf/x86: Fix NULL event access
and potential PEBS record loss") which moved the cpuc->events[idx]
assignment out of x86_pmu_start() and into step 2 of x86_pmu_enable(),
after the PERF_HES_ARCH check. This broke any path that calls
pmu->start() without going through x86_pmu_enable() -- specifically
the unthrottle path:
perf_adjust_freq_unthr_events()
-> perf_event_unthrottle_group()
-> perf_event_unthrottle()
-> event->pmu->start(event, 0)
-> x86_pmu_start() // sets active_mask but not events[]
The race sequence is:
1. A group of perf events overflows, triggering group throttle via
perf_event_throttle_group(). All events are stopped: active_mask
bits cleared, events[] preserved (x86_pmu_stop no longer clears
events[] after commit 7e772a93eb61).
2. While still throttled (PERF_HES_STOPPED), x86_pmu_enable() runs
due to other scheduling activity. Stopped events that need to
move counters get PERF_HES_ARCH set and events[old_idx] cleared.
In step 2 of x86_pmu_enable(), PERF_HES_ARCH causes these events
to be skipped -- events[new_idx] is never set.
3. The timer tick unthrottles the group via pmu->start(). Since
commit 7e772a93eb61 removed the events[] assignment from
x86_pmu_start(), active_mask[new_idx] is set but events[new_idx]
remains NULL.
4. A PMC overflow NMI fires. The handler iterates active counters,
finds active_mask[2] set, reads events[2] which is NULL, and
crashes dereferencing it.
Move the cpuc->events[hwc->idx] assignment in x86_pmu_enable() to
before the PERF_HES_ARCH check, so that events[] is populated even
for events that are not immediately started. This ensures the
unthrottle path via pmu->start() always finds a valid event pointer.
SUSE information
Overall state of this security issue: New
This issue is currently rated as having not set severity.
Note from the SUSE Security Team on the kernel-default package
SUSE will no longer fix all CVEs in the Linux Kernel anymore, but declare some bug classes as won't fix. Please refer to TID 21496 for more details. No SUSE Bugzilla entries cross referenced. No SUSE Security Announcements cross referenced.Status of this issue by product and package
Please note that this evaluation state might be work in progress, incomplete or outdated. Also information for service packs in the LTSS phase is only included for issues meeting the LTSS criteria. If in doubt, feel free to contact us for clarification. The updates are grouped by state of their lifecycle. SUSE product lifecycles are documented on the lifecycle page.
| Product(s) | Source package | State |
|---|---|---|
| Products under general support and receiving all security fixes. | ||
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7 | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15 SP7 | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15 SP7 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP7 | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP7 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP7 | kernel-source-azure | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP7 | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP7 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.2 | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.2 | kernel-rt | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.2 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.2 | kernel-source-rt | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | kernel-rt | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | kernel-source-rt | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | kernel-rt | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | kernel-source-rt | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 | kernel-source-rt | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP7 | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP7 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP7 | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP7 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Legacy 15 SP7 | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Legacy 15 SP7 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP7 | kernel-source-azure | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP7 | kernel-source-rt | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP7 | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP7 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP7 | kernel-source-azure | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.0 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.1 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP7 | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP7 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP7 | kernel-source-azure | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications 16.0 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications 16.1 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15 SP7 | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15 SP7 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.0 | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.0 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.0 | kernel-source-rt | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 | kernel-source-rt | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.2 | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.2 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP7 | kernel-source-rt | Analysis |
| openSUSE Leap 15.6 | kernel-default | Analysis |
| openSUSE Leap 15.6 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| openSUSE Leap 15.6 | kernel-source-azure | Analysis |
| openSUSE Leap 15.6 | kernel-source-rt | Analysis |
| Products under Long Term Service Pack support and receiving important and critical security fixes. | ||
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-LTSS | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-LTSS | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 12 SP5 | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 12 SP5 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP4 | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP4 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP5 | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP5 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP4 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP5 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP4 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP5 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP6 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 LTSS EXTREME CORE | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 LTSS EXTREME CORE | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS Extended Security | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS Extended Security | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5-LTSS | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5-LTSS | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6 | kernel-source-azure | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6-LTSS | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6-LTSS | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server LTSS Extended Security 12 SP5 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 | kernel-source-azure | Analysis |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.3 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Manager Proxy LTS 4.3 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.3 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server LTS 4.3 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.3 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Manager Server LTS 4.3 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| Products past their end of life and not receiving proactive updates anymore. | ||
| SUSE CaaS Platform 4.0 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 6 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 7 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 7.1 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 SP4 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP4 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP1 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP2 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP3 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP4 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP5 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP6 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1-ESPOS | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1-LTSS | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-ESPOS | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-LTSS | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3-ESPOS | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3-LTSS | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-ESPOS | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP6 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP6 | kernel-source-azure | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.0 | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.1 | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.1 | kernel-rt | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.1 | kernel-source-rt | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP1 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP2 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP3 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP1 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP2 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP3 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP6 | kernel-source-azure | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP2 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP3 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP3 | kernel-source-rt | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP4 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP4 | kernel-source-rt | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP5 | kernel-source-rt | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP6 | kernel-source-rt | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4-LTSS | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4-ESPOS | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4-LTSS | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4-LTSS | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-BCL | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-LTSS | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-LTSS | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-BCL | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-LTSS | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-LTSS | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3-BCL | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3-LTSS | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3-LTSS | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP4 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP1 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP2 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP3 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5 | kernel-default | Analysis |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.0 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.1 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.2 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.0 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.1 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.2 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.0 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.1 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.2 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 9 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 9 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP3 | kernel-source-rt | Analysis |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP4 | kernel-source-rt | Analysis |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP5 | kernel-source-rt | Analysis |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP6 | kernel-source-rt | Analysis |
| openSUSE Leap 15.3 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| openSUSE Leap 15.3 | kernel-source-rt | Analysis |
| openSUSE Leap 15.4 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| openSUSE Leap 15.4 | kernel-source-rt | Analysis |
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | kernel-source | Analysis |
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | kernel-source-rt | Analysis |
SUSE Timeline for this CVE
CVE page created: Fri Apr 3 20:02:30 2026CVE page last modified: Fri Apr 3 22:46:15 2026