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. ]