CVE-2026-23465: btrfs: log new dentries when logging parent dir of a conflicting inode

Published Apr 3, 2026
·
Updated

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

btrfs: log new dentries when logging parent dir of a conflicting inode

If we log the parent directory of a conflicting inode, we are not logging the new dentries of the directory, so when we finish we have the parent directory's inode marked as logged but we did not log its new dentries. As a consequence if the parent directory is explicitly fsynced later and it does not have any new changes since we logged it, the fsync is a no-op and after a power failure the new dentries are missing.

Example scenario:

$ mkdir foo

$ sync

$rmdir foo

$ mkdir dir1 $ mkdir dir2

# A file with the same name and parent as the directory we just deleted # and was persisted in a past transaction. So the deleted directory's # inode is a conflicting inode of this new file's inode. $ touch foo

$ ln foo dir2/link

# The fsync on dir2 will log the parent directory (".") because the # conflicting inode (deleted directory) does not exists anymore, but it # it does not log its new dentries (dir1). $ xfsio -c "fsync" dir2

# This fsync on the parent directory is no-op, since the previous fsync # logged it (but without logging its new dentries). $ xfsio -c "fsync" .

<power failure>

# After log replay dir1 is missing.

Fix this by ensuring we log new dir dentries whenever we log the parent directory of a no longer existing conflicting inode.

A test case for fstests will follow soon.

Affected Software

9 affected components
Linux Linux kernel (btrfs)
Linux Linux kernel>=5.1<6.6.130
Linux Linux kernel>=6.7<6.12.78
Linux Linux kernel>=6.13<6.18.20
Linux Linux kernel>=6.19<6.19.10
Linux Linux kernel=7.0-rc1
Linux Linux kernel=7.0-rc2
Linux Linux kernel=7.0-rc3
Linux Linux kernel=7.0-rc4

Event History

Apr 3, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·03:15 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·03:15 PM
Description
Data Sourced
via NVD·04:16 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityAffected Software
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-23465?

The severity of CVE-2026-23465 is medium with a CVSS score of 5.5.

2

How do I fix CVE-2026-23465?

To fix CVE-2026-23465, apply the available patch to the Linux kernel.

3

What systems are affected by CVE-2026-23465?

CVE-2026-23465 affects systems running the Linux kernel with btrfs filesystem.

4

What does CVE-2026-23465 exploit?

CVE-2026-23465 exploits a flaw in logging new dentries when logging the parent directory of a conflicting inode.

5

When was CVE-2026-23465 published?

CVE-2026-23465 was published on April 3, 2026.

Contact

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