Description
The ext4_isize function in fs/ext4/ext4.h in the Linux kernel 2.6.27 before 2.6.27.19 and 2.6.28 before 2.6.28.7 uses the i_size_high structure member during operations on arbitrary types of files, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption and error-message flood) by attempting to mount a crafted ext4 filesystem.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 5.0 | linux-2.6 | 2.6.26-13lenny2 | DSA-1749-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | kernel +12 | 2.6.18-164.el5 | RHSA-2009:1243 |
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2009:1243 Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.4 kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-1749-1 linux-2.6 - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- http://kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.27.19
- ADV-2009-0509 vdb-entry
- 37471 third-party-advisory
- RHSA-2009:1243 vendor-advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=06a279d636734da32bb62dd2f7b0ade666f65d7c
- http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2009-0016.html
- DSA-1749 vendor-advisory
- USN-751-1 vendor-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:8585 vdb-entry signature
- 20091120 VMSA-2009-0016 VMware vCenter and ESX update release and vMA patch release address multiple security issue in third party components mailing-list
- 36562 third-party-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:9200 vdb-entry signature
- http://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=12375
- 34394 third-party-advisory
- http://kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.28.7
- ADV-2009-3316 vdb-entry