CVE-2023-53865: btrfs: fix warning when putting transaction with qgroups enabled after abort

Published Dec 9, 2025

Updated

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

btrfs: fix warning when putting transaction with qgroups enabled after abort

If we have a transaction abort with qgroups enabled we get a warning triggered when doing the final put on the transaction, like this:

[552.6789] ------------[ cut here ]------------ [552.6815] WARNING: CPU: 4 PID: 81745 at fs/btrfs/transaction.c:144 btrfsputtransaction+0x123/0x130 [btrfs] [552.6817] Modules linked in: btrfs blake2bgeneric xor (...) [552.6819] CPU: 4 PID: 81745 Comm: btrfs-transacti Tainted: G W 6.4.0-rc6-btrfs-next-134+ #1 [552.6819] Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS rel-1.16.2-0-gea1b7a073390-prebuilt.qemu.org 04/01/2014 [552.6819] RIP: 0010:btrfsputtransaction+0x123/0x130 [btrfs] [552.6821] Code: bd a0 01 00 (...) [552.6821] RSP: 0018:ffffa168c0527e28 EFLAGS: 00010286 [552.6821] RAX: ffff936042caed00 RBX: ffff93604a3eb448 RCX: 0000000000000000 [552.6821] RDX: ffff93606421b028 RSI: ffffffff92ff0878 RDI: ffff93606421b010 [552.6821] RBP: ffff93606421b000 R08: 0000000000000000 R09: ffffa168c0d07c20 [552.6821] R10: 0000000000000000 R11: ffff93608dc52950 R12: ffffa168c0527e70 [552.6821] R13: ffff93606421b000 R14: ffff93604a3eb420 R15: ffff93606421b028 [552.6821] FS: 0000000000000000(0000) GS:ffff93675fb00000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 [552.6821] CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 [552.6821] CR2: 0000558ad262b000 CR3: 000000014feda005 CR4: 0000000000370ee0 [552.6822] DR0: 0000000000000000 DR1: 0000000000000000 DR2: 0000000000000000 [552.6822] DR3: 0000000000000000 DR6: 00000000fffe0ff0 DR7: 0000000000000400 [552.6822] Call Trace: [552.6822] <TASK> [552.6822] ? warn+0x80/0x130 [552.6822] ? btrfsputtransaction+0x123/0x130 [btrfs] [552.6824] ? reportbug+0x1f4/0x200 [552.6824] ? handlebug+0x42/0x70 [552.6824] ? excinvalidop+0x14/0x70 [552.6824] ? asmexcinvalidop+0x16/0x20 [552.6824] ? btrfsputtransaction+0x123/0x130 [btrfs] [552.6826] btrfscleanuptransaction+0xe7/0x5e0 [btrfs] [552.6828] ? rawspinunlockirqrestore+0x23/0x40 [552.6828] ? trytowakeup+0x94/0x5e0 [552.6828] ? pfxprocesstimeout+0x10/0x10 [552.6828] transactionkthread+0x103/0x1d0 [btrfs] [552.6830] ? pfxtransactionkthread+0x10/0x10 [btrfs] [552.6832] kthread+0xee/0x120 [552.6832] ? pfxkthread+0x10/0x10 [552.6832] retfromfork+0x29/0x50 [552.6832] </TASK> [552.6832] ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]---

This corresponds to this line of code:

void btrfsputtransaction(struct btrfstransaction transaction) { (...) WARNON(!RBEMPTYROOT( &transaction->delayedrefs.dirtyextentroot)); (...) }

The warning happens because btrfsqgroupdestroyextentrecords(), called in the transaction abort path, we free all entries from the rbtree "dirtyextentroot" with rbtreepostorderforeachentrysafe(), but we don't actually empty the rbtree - it's still pointing to nodes that were freed.

So set the rbtree's root node to NULL to avoid this warning (assign RBROOT).

Affected Software

147 affected componentsFixes available

The Linux Foundation Linux kernel (btrfs)

ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.0*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.4<5.4.0-1113.123~18.04.1

5.4.0-1113.123~18.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.4<5.4.0-1119.126~18.04.2

5.4.0-1119.126~18.04.2

ubuntu/linux-azure-edge*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.4<5.4.0-1117.126~18.04.1

5.4.0-1117.126~18.04.1

ubuntu/linux-gke-4.15*

ubuntu/linux-gke-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-hwe*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.4<5.4.0-166.183~18.04.2

5.4.0-166.183~18.04.2

ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*

ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.4<5.4.0-1060.65~18.04.1

5.4.0-1060.65~18.04.1

ubuntu/linux-oem*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.0*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.4<5.4.0-1112.121~18.04.4

5.4.0-1112.121~18.04.4

ubuntu/linux-raspi-5.4<5.4.0-1097.109~18.04.2

5.4.0-1097.109~18.04.2

ubuntu/linux<5.4.0-166.183

5.4.0-166.183

ubuntu/linux-aws<5.4.0-1113.123

5.4.0-1113.123

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.15<5.15.0-1049.54~20.04.1

5.15.0-1049.54~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure<5.4.0-1119.126

5.4.0-1119.126

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15<5.15.0-1051.59~20.04.1

5.15.0-1051.59~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-bluefield<5.4.0-1074.80

5.4.0-1074.80

ubuntu/linux-gcp<5.4.0-1117.126

5.4.0-1117.126

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15<5.15.0-1046.54~20.04.1

5.15.0-1046.54~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.15<5.15.0-88.98~20.04.1

5.15.0-88.98~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-ibm<5.4.0-1060.65

5.4.0-1060.65

ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.15<5.15.0-1042.45~20.04.1

5.15.0-1042.45~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15<5.15.0-1045.51~20.04.1

5.15.0-1045.51~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-iot<5.4.0-1025.26

5.4.0-1025.26

ubuntu/linux-kvm<5.4.0-1102.108

5.4.0-1102.108

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15<5.15.0-88.98~20.04.1

5.15.0-88.98~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15<5.15.0-1019.19~20.04.1

5.15.0-1019.19~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-oracle<5.4.0-1112.121

5.4.0-1112.121

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.15<5.15.0-1047.53~20.04.1

5.15.0-1047.53~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-raspi<5.4.0-1097.109

5.4.0-1097.109

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15<5.15.0-1045.49~20.04.1

5.15.0-1045.49~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmp<5.4.0-1033.37

5.4.0-1033.37

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-gke*

ubuntu/linux-gke-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-intel-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.10*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.6*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-raspi2*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<5.4.0-1113.123+fips1

5.4.0-1113.123+fips1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<5.4.0-1119.126+fips1

5.4.0-1119.126+fips1

ubuntu/linux-fips<5.4.0-1088.97

5.4.0-1088.97

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<5.4.0-1117.126+fips1

5.4.0-1117.126+fips1

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux<5.15.0-88.98

5.15.0-88.98

ubuntu/linux-allwinner-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-aws<5.15.0-1049.54

5.15.0-1049.54

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-azure<5.15.0-1051.59

5.15.0-1051.59

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<5.15.0-1051.59.1

5.15.0-1051.59.1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-gcp<5.15.0-1046.54

5.15.0-1046.54

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-gke<5.15.0-1046.51

5.15.0-1046.51

ubuntu/linux-gkeop<5.15.0-1032.38

5.15.0-1032.38

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-ibm<5.15.0-1042.45

5.15.0-1042.45

ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg<5.15.0-1045.51

5.15.0-1045.51

ubuntu/linux-kvm<5.15.0-1046.51

5.15.0-1046.51

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<5.15.0-88.98

5.15.0-88.98

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia<5.15.0-1040.40

5.15.0-1040.40

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra<5.15.0-1019.19

5.15.0-1019.19

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-igx<5.15.0-1006.6

5.15.0-1006.6

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.17*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.0*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.1*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-oracle<5.15.0-1047.53

5.15.0-1047.53

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-raspi<5.15.0-1042.45

5.15.0-1042.45

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmp<5.15.0-1025.29

5.15.0-1025.29

ubuntu/linux-bluefield<5.15.0-1031.33

5.15.0-1031.33

ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime<5.15.0-1042.44

5.15.0-1042.44

ubuntu/linux-realtime<5.15.0-1050.56

5.15.0-1050.56

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-vmware*

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.4.0-1113.123~18.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.4.0-1119.126~18.04.2
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.4.0-1117.126~18.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.4.0-166.183~18.04.2
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.4.0-1060.65~18.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.4.0-1112.121~18.04.4
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.4.0-1097.109~18.04.2
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.4.0-166.183
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.4.0-1113.123
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1049.54~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.4.0-1119.126
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1051.59~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-bluefield to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.4.0-1074.80
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.4.0-1117.126
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1046.54~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-88.98~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.4.0-1060.65
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1042.45~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1045.51~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-iot to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.4.0-1025.26
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-kvm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.4.0-1102.108
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-88.98~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1019.19~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.4.0-1112.121
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1047.53~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.4.0-1097.109
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1045.49~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.4.0-1033.37
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.4.0-1113.123+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.4.0-1119.126+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.4.0-1088.97
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.4.0-1117.126+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-88.98
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1049.54
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1051.59
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1051.59.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1046.54
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1046.51
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gkeop to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1032.38
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1042.45
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1045.51
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-kvm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1046.51
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-88.98
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1040.40
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1019.19
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-igx to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1006.6
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1047.53
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1042.45
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1025.29
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-bluefield to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1031.33
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1042.44
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1050.56
Configuration
After btrfs_qgroup_destroy_extent_records() frees the entries during the transaction-abort path, assign RB_ROOT to dirty_extent_root so the rbtree is empty and no longer points to freed nodes.
Linux kernel Btrfs qgroup transaction handling transaction->delayed_refs.dirty_extent_root = RB_ROOT

Event History

Dec 9, 2025

CVE Published

via MITRE·01:30 AM

Data Sourced

via MITRE·01:30 AM

Description

Data Sourced

via OSV·04:17 PM

DescriptionSeverityAffected Software

Data Sourced

via NVD·04:17 PM

Description

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the severity of CVE-2023-53865?

CVE-2023-53865 has a severity rating of medium as it involves a warning message during transaction handling with Btrfs in the Linux kernel.

How do I fix CVE-2023-53865?

To fix CVE-2023-53865, update your Linux kernel to version 6.4.0-rc7 or later.

What causes the warning in CVE-2023-53865?

The warning in CVE-2023-53865 is caused by an issue during the final put on a transaction when qgroups are enabled and a transaction abort occurs.

Which versions of the Linux kernel are affected by CVE-2023-53865?

CVE-2023-53865 affects Linux kernel versions up to and including 6.4.0-rc6.

Is CVE-2023-53865 related to Btrfs functionality?

Yes, CVE-2023-53865 specifically pertains to a warning generated in the Btrfs filesystem when handling transactions.

CVE-2023-53865: btrfs: fix warning when putting transaction with qgroups enabled after abort

Affected Software

Remediation

Event History

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the severity of CVE-2023-53865?

How do I fix CVE-2023-53865?

What causes the warning in CVE-2023-53865?

Which versions of the Linux kernel are affected by CVE-2023-53865?

Is CVE-2023-53865 related to Btrfs functionality?

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