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Unity Linux 20.1070a Security Update: kernel (UTSA-2026-005703)
medium Nessus Plugin ID 300885
Synopsis
The Unity Linux host is missing one or more security updates.Description
The Unity Linux 20 host has a package installed that is affected by a vulnerability as referenced in the UTSA-2026-005703 advisory.In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
rcu: Protect rcu_print_task_exp_stall() ->exp_tasks access
For kernels built with CONFIG_PREEMPT_RCU=y, the following scenario can result in a NULL-pointer dereference:
CPU1 CPU2 rcu_preempt_deferred_qs_irqrestore rcu_print_task_exp_stall if (special.b.blocked) READ_ONCE(rnp->exp_tasks) != NULL raw_spin_lock_rcu_node np = rcu_next_node_entry(t, rnp) if (&t->rcu_node_entry == rnp->exp_tasks) WRITE_ONCE(rnp->exp_tasks, np) ....
raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore_rcu_node raw_spin_lock_irqsave_rcu_node t = list_entry(rnp->exp_tasks->prev, struct task_struct, rcu_node_entry) (if rnp->exp_tasks is NULL, this will dereference a NULL pointer)
The problem is that CPU2 accesses the rcu_node structure's->exp_tasks field without holding the rcu_node structure's ->lock and CPU2 did not observe CPU1's change to rcu_node structure's ->exp_tasks in time.
Therefore, if CPU1 sets rcu_node structure's->exp_tasks pointer to NULL, then CPU2 might dereference that NULL pointer.
This commit therefore holds the rcu_node structure's ->lock while accessing that structure's->exp_tasks field.
[ paulmck: Apply Frederic Weisbecker feedback. ]
Tenable has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Unity Linux security advisory.
Note that Nessus has not tested for this issue but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.
Solution
Update the affected kernel package.See Also
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-53419
Plugin Details
Severity: Medium
ID: 300885
File Name: unity_linux_UTSA-2026-005703.nasl
Version: 1.1
Type: local
Published: 3/5/2026
Updated: 3/5/2026
Supported Sensors: Nessus
Risk Information
VPR
Risk Factor: Medium
Score: 4.4
CVSS v2
Risk Factor: Medium
Base Score: 4.6
Temporal Score: 3.4
Vector: CVSS2#AV:L/AC:L/Au:S/C:N/I:N/A:C
CVSS Score Source: CVE-2023-53419
CVSS v3
Risk Factor: Medium
Base Score: 5.5
Temporal Score: 4.8
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Temporal Vector: CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
Vulnerability Information
Required KB Items: Host/local_checks_enabled, Host/UOS-Server/release, Host/UOS-Server/rpm-list, Host/cpu
Exploit Ease: No known exploits are available
Patch Publication Date: 3/3/2026
Vulnerability Publication Date: 7/21/2021
Reference Information
CVE: CVE-2023-53419