In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

spi: spidev: fix lock inversion between spi_lock and buf_lock

The spidev driver previously used two mutexes, spi_lock and buf_lock,
but acquired them in different orders depending on the code path:

write()/read(): buf_lock -> spi_lock
ioctl(): spi_lock -> buf_lock

This AB-BA locking pattern triggers lockdep warnings and can
cause real deadlocks:

WARNING: possible circular locking dependency detected
spidev_ioctl() -> mutex_lock(&spidev->buf_lock)
spidev_sync_write() -> mutex_lock(&spidev->spi_lock)
*** DEADLOCK ***

The issue is reproducible with a simple userspace program that
performs write() and SPI_IOC_WR_MAX_SPEED_HZ ioctl() calls from
separate threads on the same spidev file descriptor.

Fix this by simplifying the locking model and removing the lock
inversion entirely. spidev_sync() no longer performs any locking,
and all callers serialize access using spi_lock.

buf_lock is removed since its functionality is fully covered by
spi_lock, eliminating the possibility of lock ordering issues.

This removes the lock inversion and prevents deadlocks without
changing userspace ABI or behaviour.

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History

Sat, 09 May 2026 00:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-413
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate


Fri, 08 May 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: spi: spidev: fix lock inversion between spi_lock and buf_lock The spidev driver previously used two mutexes, spi_lock and buf_lock, but acquired them in different orders depending on the code path: write()/read(): buf_lock -> spi_lock ioctl(): spi_lock -> buf_lock This AB-BA locking pattern triggers lockdep warnings and can cause real deadlocks: WARNING: possible circular locking dependency detected spidev_ioctl() -> mutex_lock(&spidev->buf_lock) spidev_sync_write() -> mutex_lock(&spidev->spi_lock) *** DEADLOCK *** The issue is reproducible with a simple userspace program that performs write() and SPI_IOC_WR_MAX_SPEED_HZ ioctl() calls from separate threads on the same spidev file descriptor. Fix this by simplifying the locking model and removing the lock inversion entirely. spidev_sync() no longer performs any locking, and all callers serialize access using spi_lock. buf_lock is removed since its functionality is fully covered by spi_lock, eliminating the possibility of lock ordering issues. This removes the lock inversion and prevents deadlocks without changing userspace ABI or behaviour.
Title spi: spidev: fix lock inversion between spi_lock and buf_lock
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-05-09T04:10:33.132Z

Reserved: 2026-05-01T14:12:56.001Z

Link: CVE-2026-43319

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-05-08T14:16:40.480

Modified: 2026-05-08T14:16:40.480

Link: CVE-2026-43319

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Moderate

Publid Date: 2026-05-08T00:00:00Z

Links: CVE-2026-43319 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-05-09T02:30:16Z

Weaknesses