CVE-2026-31448
Description
A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's ext4 filesystem. When creating a directory or node, if an extent insertion fails, the system may not properly clear residual data. This can lead to a situation where both directory and extended attribute (xattr) blocks simultaneously use the same memory buffer, causing an infinite loop. A local attacker could exploit this to trigger a system hang, resulting in a Denial of Service (DoS). Additionally, this flaw could lead to metadata corruption.
Statement
This defect concerns ext4 metadata handling on error paths during mkdir/mknod operations and can wedge inode locks or corrupt accounting. Red Hat aligns severity with upstream MODERATE impact focused on availability and filesystem consistency. Customers should install corrected ext4 code when errata ships. Workloads that cannot avoid ext4 should prioritize patching over operational workarounds.
Mitigation
To mitigate this issue, prevent the ext4 module from being loaded. See https://access.redhat.com/solutions/41278 for instructions.
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 | 9.4 |
| Attack Vector | Local | N/A | Network |
| Attack Complexity | Low | N/A | Low |
| Privileges Required | Low | N/A | None |
| User Interaction | None | N/A | None |
| Scope | Unchanged | N/A | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | None | N/A | Low |
| Integrity Impact | None | N/A | High |
| Availability Impact | High | N/A | High |
Vector
Red Hat: 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:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:H
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Availability
Technical Impact: DoS: Resource Consumption (Other); DoS: Resource Consumption (Memory); DoS: Resource Consumption (CPU)
An attacker that can influence the allocation of resources that are not properly released could deplete the available resource pool and prevent all other processes from accessing the same type of resource. Frequently-affected resources include memory, CPU, disk space, power or battery, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
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