CVE-2025-68820
Description
A NULL pointer dereference vulnerability was found in the Linux kernel's ext4 filesystem extended attribute handling. When ext4_get_inode_loc() fails with an error such as -EFSCORRUPTED, the iloc.bh buffer head remains NULL. The ext4_xattr_inode_dec_ref_all() function lacks error checking and proceeds to call ext4_raw_inode() with the NULL buffer, causing a kernel crash.
Statement
This vulnerability was discovered by the Linux Verification Center using SVACE static analysis. It affects ext4 filesystems when processing extended attributes on corrupted inodes. The crash can be triggered by mounting a specially crafted or corrupted ext4 filesystem image. Normal filesystem operations on healthy filesystems are not affected.
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 | N/A | N/A |
| Attack Vector | Local | N/A | N/A |
| Attack Complexity | Low | N/A | N/A |
| Privileges Required | Low | N/A | N/A |
| User Interaction | None | N/A | N/A |
| Scope | Unchanged | N/A | N/A |
| Confidentiality | None | N/A | N/A |
| Integrity Impact | None | N/A | N/A |
| Availability Impact | High | N/A | N/A |
Vector
Red Hat: 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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