CVE-2026-43065: ext4: always drain queued discard work in ext4_mb_release()

Published May 5, 2026
·
Updated

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

ext4: always drain queued discard work in ext4mbrelease()

While reviewing recent ext4 patch[1], Sashiko raised the following concern[2]:

If the filesystem is initially mounted with the discard option, deleting files will populate sbi->sdiscardlist and queue sdiscardwork. If it is then remounted with nodiscard, the EXT4MOUNTDISCARD flag is cleared, but the pending sdiscardwork is neither cancelled nor flushed.

[1] https://lore.kernel.org/r/20260319094545.19291-1-qiang.zhang@linux.dev/ [2] https://sashiko.dev/#/patchset/20260319094545.19291-1-qiang.zhang%40linux.dev

The concern was valid, but it had nothing to do with the patch[1]. One of the problems with Sashiko in its current (early) form is that it will detect pre-existing issues and report it as a problem with the patch that it is reviewing.

In practice, it would be hard to hit deliberately (unless you are a malicious syzkaller fuzzer), since it would involve mounting the file system with -o discard, and then deleting a large number of files, remounting the file system with -o nodiscard, and then immediately unmounting the file system before the queued discard work has a change to drain on its own.

Fix it because it's a real bug, and to avoid Sashiko from raising this concern when analyzing future patches to mballoc.c.

Affected Software

12 affected components
Linux ext4 (Linux kernel)
Linux Linux kernel>=5.15<5.15.203
Linux Linux kernel>=5.16<6.1.168
Linux Linux kernel>=6.2<6.6.131
Linux Linux kernel>=6.7<6.12.80
Linux Linux kernel>=6.13<6.18.21
Linux Linux kernel>=6.19<6.19.11
Linux Linux kernel=7.0-rc1
Linux Linux kernel=7.0-rc2
Linux Linux kernel=7.0-rc3
Linux Linux kernel=7.0-rc4
Linux Linux kernel=7.0-rc5

Event History

May 5, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·03:23 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·03:23 PM
Description
Data Sourced
via NVD·04:16 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-43065?

CVE-2026-43065 has been classified with a medium severity level due to its potential impact on system performance.

2

How do I fix CVE-2026-43065?

To fix CVE-2026-43065, update your Linux kernel to the latest version where the vulnerability has been addressed.

3

What systems are affected by CVE-2026-43065?

CVE-2026-43065 affects the ext4 filesystem in the Linux kernel.

4

What are the implications of CVE-2026-43065?

The implications of CVE-2026-43065 may include performance degradation during discard operations on affected systems.

5

Is there any workaround for CVE-2026-43065?

There are no recommended workarounds for CVE-2026-43065; updating the kernel is the advised solution.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203