CVE-2023-53672
Description
A logic error was found in the Linux kernel's Btrfs filesystem in the inline extent backref lookup logic. A local user can trigger this issue by performing filesystem operations that attempt to insert an inline backref that should already exist but cannot be found, causing the driver to hit a WARN_ON assertion. This results in kernel warnings and potential system instability leading to denial of service.
Statement
The lookup_inline_extent_backref function searches for inline backrefs in the Btrfs extent tree. When called with the insert flag set to true (indicating a new backref should be inserted), the code expects to find an existing backref entry. When it cannot find one, it triggers a WARN_ON assertion indicating an inconsistency in the filesystem metadata. This situation suggests either filesystem corruption or a bug in Btrfs extent management logic. While the warning itself is primarily a diagnostic measure, the underlying condition represents a filesystem consistency issue that could lead to data loss or system instability. The issue can occur during normal filesystem operations on Btrfs volumes, particularly under stress or with corrupted metadata.
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 | 5.5 | 5.5 | N/A |
| Attack Vector | Local | Local | N/A |
| Attack Complexity | Low | Low | N/A |
| Privileges Required | Low | Low | N/A |
| User Interaction | None | None | N/A |
| Scope | Unchanged | Unchanged | N/A |
| Confidentiality | None | None | N/A |
| Integrity Impact | None | None | N/A |
| Availability Impact | High | High | N/A |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
NVD: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Availability,Integrity
Technical Impact: Unexpected State; DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart
An unexpected return value could place the system in a state that could lead to a crash or other unintended behaviors.
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