CVE-2023-52590
Description
This Linux kernel bug affects the Oracle Cluster File System v2 (OCFS2). The issue arises during directory rename operations when a moved directory's parent remains the same, a scenario where the Virtual File System (VFS) does not natively lock the directory. Because the OCFS2 code was previously touching the renamed directory without ensuring it was properly locked, this flaw could potentially be triggered by a local user to cause filesystem corruption. Patched kernel versions resolve the vulnerability by updating the OCFS2 rename code to avoid touching the renamed directory if its parent does not change, preventing the unsafe, lockless operations that could corrupt data on disk.
Statement
This vulnerability is rated as having a Low impact because exploitation requires local access with permissions to perform directory renames on an OCFS2 file system. In standard Red Hat Enterprise Linux environments, OCFS2 is neither supported nor enabled by default. Furthermore, Red Hat Enterprise Linux kernels do not incorporate the upstream changes to directory locking behavior that exposed this issue, leaving typical enterprise deployments unaffected.
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details
Info alert:Important note
CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).
The following CVSS metrics and score provided are preliminary and subject to review.
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 7.1 | 5.5 | 7.8 |
| Attack Vector | Local | Local | Local |
| Attack Complexity | Low | Low | Low |
| Privileges Required | Low | Low | Low |
| User Interaction | None | None | None |
| Scope | Unchanged | Unchanged | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | High | None | High |
| Integrity Impact | None | None | High |
| Availability Impact | High | High | High |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H
NVD: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
cve.org: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Integrity,Availability
Technical Impact: Modify Application Data; DoS: Instability; DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart
Frequently Asked Questions
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