Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ext4: allow ext4_get_group_info() to fail
Previously, ext4_get_group_info() would treat an invalid group number
as BUG(), since in theory it should never happen. However, if a
malicious attaker (or fuzzer) modifies the superblock via the block
device while it is the file system is mounted, it is possible for
s_first_data_block to get set to a very large number. In that case,
when calculating the block group of some block number (such as the
starting block of a preallocation region), could result in an
underflow and very large block group number. Then the BUG_ON check in
ext4_get_group_info() would fire, resutling in a denial of service
attack that can be triggered by root or someone with write access to
the block device.
For a quality of implementation perspective, it's best that even if
the system administrator does something that they shouldn't, that it
will not trigger a BUG. So instead of BUG'ing, ext4_get_group_info()
will call ext4_error and return NULL. We also add fallback code in
all of the callers of ext4_get_group_info() that it might NULL.
Also, since ext4_get_group_info() was already borderline to be an
inline function, un-inline it. The results in a next reduction of the
compiled text size of ext4 by roughly 2k.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 3.11 | 5.10.181 |
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 14 | linux | 6.3.7-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 6.3.7-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 6.1.37-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Nvidia-BlueField 22.04 LTS | linux-bluefield | 5.15.0-1023.25 | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-intel +9 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux +1 | 5.15.0-83.92 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-aws | 5.15.0-1044.49 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure | 5.15.0-1046.53 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde | 5.15.0-1046.53.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 5.15.0-1041.49 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gke +1 | 5.15.0-1041.46 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gkeop | 5.15.0-1027.32 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-ibm +1 | 5.15.0-1037.40 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-intel-iotg | 5.15.0-1039.45 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-nvidia | 5.15.0-1032.32 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | 5.15.0-1017.17 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra-igx | 5.15.0-1004.4 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 5.15.0-1042.48 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +32 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-xilinx-zynqmp | 5.15.0-1025.29 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-aws-5.15 | 5.15.0-1044.49~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-azure-5.15 | 5.15.0-1046.53~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gcp-5.15 | 5.15.0-1041.49~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +28 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-hwe-5.15 +1 | 5.15.0-83.92~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-ibm-5.15 | 5.15.0-1037.40~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-intel-iotg-5.15 | 5.15.0-1040.46~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15 | 5.15.0-1017.17~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-oracle-5.15 | 5.15.0-1042.48~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-riscv-5.15 | 5.15.0-1040.44~20.04.3 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +14 | No fix yet | — |
Show 13 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe-edge | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS | linux-intel-iot-realtime | 5.15.0-1038.40 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS | linux-realtime | 5.15.0-1045.50 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS 20.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS 18.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS 16.04 LTS | linux-fips | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 18.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 16.04 LTS | linux-fips | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-preview 22.04 LTS | linux-fips | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux +10 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | linux +12 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | linux +7 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | linux +3 | No fix yet | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 9 | bpftool | 7.4.0-503.11.1.el9_5 | RHSA-2024:9315 |
| RHEL 9 | rv +67 | 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5 | RHSA-2024:9315 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 9.4 EUS | bpftool | 7.3.0-427.47.1.el9_4 | RHSA-2024:10771 |
| RHEL 9.4 EUS | rv +64 | 5.14.0-427.47.1.el9_4 | RHSA-2024:10771 |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2023 | kernel-livepatch-6.1.34-56.100 | 1.0-0.amzn2023 | ALAS2023-2023-228 |
| Amazon Linux 2023 | perf +12 | 6.1.34-56.100.amzn2023 | ALAS2023-2023-228 |
Advisories 4
- RHSA-2024:9315 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Oct 20, 2026
- WID-SEC-2025-2187 Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Denial of Service BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Oct 18, 2026
- RHSA-2024:10771 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Oct 17, 2026
- ALAS2023-2023-228 Important: kernel security update (Amazon Linux 2023) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Feb 11, 2026
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/100c0ad6c04597fefeaaba2bb1827cc015d95067
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/620a3c28221bb219b81bc0bffd065cc187494302
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b4319e457d6e3fb33e443efeaf4634fc36e8a9ed
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/31668cebf45adfb6283e465e641c4f5a21b07afa
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5354b2af34064a4579be8bc0e2f15a7b70f14b5f