Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
f2fs: invalidate dentry cache on failed whiteout creation
F2FS can mount filesystems with corrupted directory depth values that
get runtime-clamped to MAX_DIR_HASH_DEPTH. When RENAME_WHITEOUT
operations are performed on such directories, f2fs_rename performs
directory modifications (updating target entry and deleting source
entry) before attempting to add the whiteout entry via f2fs_add_link.
If f2fs_add_link fails due to the corrupted directory structure, the
function returns an error to VFS, but the partial directory
modifications have already been committed to disk. VFS assumes the
entire rename operation failed and does not update the dentry cache,
leaving stale mappings.
In the error path, VFS does not call d_move() to update the dentry
cache. This results in new_dentry still pointing to the old inode
(new_inode) which has already had its i_nlink decremented to zero.
The stale cache causes subsequent operations to incorrectly reference
the freed inode.
This causes subsequent operations to use cached dentry information that
no longer matches the on-disk state. When a second rename targets the
same entry, VFS attempts to decrement i_nlink on the stale inode, which
may already have i_nlink=0, triggering a WARNING in drop_nlink().
Example sequence:
1. First rename (RENAME_WHITEOUT): file2 → file1
- f2fs updates file1 entry on disk (points to inode 8)
- f2fs deletes file2 entry on disk
- f2fs_add_link(whiteout) fails (corrupted directory)
- Returns error to VFS
- VFS does not call d_move() due to error
- VFS cache still has: file1 → inode 7 (stale!)
- inode 7 has i_nlink=0 (already decremented)
2. Second rename: file3 → file1
- VFS uses stale cache: file1 → inode 7
- Tries to drop_nlink on inode 7 (i_nlink already 0)
- WARNING in drop_nlink()
Fix this by explicitly invalidating old_dentry and new_dentry when
f2fs_add_link fails during whiteout creation. This forces VFS to
refresh from disk on subsequent operations, ensuring cache consistency
even when the rename partially succeeds.
Reproducer:
1. Mount F2FS image with corrupted i_current_depth
2. renameat2(file2, file1, RENAME_WHITEOUT)
3. renameat2(file3, file1, 0)
4. System triggers WARNING in drop_nlink()
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 4.2 | 5.10.248 |
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 | 6.18.3-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 6.12.69-1 | DSA-6126-1 |
| Debian 12 | linux | 6.1.162-1 | DSA-6127-1 |
| Debian 11 | linux | 5.10.249-1 | DLA-4475-1 |
| Debian 11 | linux-6.1 | 6.1.162-1~deb11u1 | DLA-4476-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Nvidia-BlueField 24.04 LTS | linux-bluefield | 6.8.0-1017.21 | — |
| Ubuntu Nvidia-BlueField 22.04 LTS | linux-bluefield | 5.15.0-1086.88 | — |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-vmware | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 25.10 | linux | 6.17.0-22.22 | USN-8177-1 |
| Ubuntu 25.10 | linux-aws +1 | 6.17.0-1012.12 | USN-8183-2, USN-8183-1 |
| Ubuntu 25.10 | linux-azure +1 | 6.17.0-1013.13 | USN-8245-1 |
| Ubuntu 25.10 | linux-azure-fde | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 25.10 | linux-oracle | 6.17.0-1011.11 | USN-8183-2 |
| Ubuntu 25.10 | linux-realtime | 6.17.0-1010.11 | USN-8177-1 |
| Ubuntu 25.10 | linux-riscv | 6.17.0-22.22.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux | 6.8.0-110.110 | USN-8179-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-aws | 6.8.0-1052.55 | USN-8179-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-aws-6.17 +1 | 6.17.0-1012.12~24.04.1 | USN-8183-2, USN-8183-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-azure | 6.8.0-1054.60 | USN-8258-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-azure-6.17 | 6.17.0-1013.13~24.04.1 | USN-8245-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde | 6.8.0-1058.65 | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-azure-nvidia | 6.8.0-1039.42 | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 6.8.0-1054.57 | USN-8179-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gke | 6.8.0-1050.56 | USN-8179-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gkeop | 6.8.0-1037.40 | USN-8179-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-hwe-6.17 | 6.17.0-22.22~24.04.1 | USN-8183-2 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-ibm | 6.8.0-1051.51 | USN-8179-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency | 6.8.0-110.110.1 | USN-8179-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia | 6.8.0-1051.54 | USN-8185-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-6.17 | 6.17.0-1018.18 | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-lowlatency | 6.8.0-1051.54.1 | USN-8185-2 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | 6.8.0-1022.22 | USN-8265-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-oem-6.17 | 6.17.0-1020.20 | USN-8245-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 6.8.0-1049.50 | USN-8203-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-oracle-6.17 | 6.17.0-1011.11~24.04.1 | USN-8183-2 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-raspi | 6.8.0-1052.56 | USN-8179-3 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-riscv +18 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-riscv-6.17 | 6.17.0-22.22.1~24.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-xilinx | 6.8.0-1028.29 | USN-8261-1 |
Show 19 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux +1 | 5.15.0-173.183 | USN-8096-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-aws | 5.15.0-1103.110 | USN-8096-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-aws-6.8 | 6.8.0-1052.55~22.04.1 | USN-8179-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure | 5.15.0-1109.118 | USN-8163-2 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure-6.8 | 6.8.0-1059.65~22.04.1 | USN-8440-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde | 5.15.0-1109.118.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.8 | 6.8.0-1058.65~22.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 5.15.0-1103.112 | USN-8096-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gcp-6.8 | 6.8.0-1054.57~22.04.1 | USN-8179-4 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gke | 5.15.0-1099.105 | USN-8096-3 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gkeop | 5.15.0-1086.94 | USN-8096-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-hwe-6.8 +1 | 6.8.0-110.110~22.04.1 | USN-8179-3 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-ibm +1 | 5.15.0-1097.100 | USN-8141-1, USN-8096-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-ibm-6.8 | 6.8.0-1051.51~22.04.1 | USN-8179-3 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-intel-iotg | 5.15.0-1098.104 | USN-8096-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-kvm | 5.15.0-1095.100 | USN-8096-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-110.110.1~22.04.1 | USN-8179-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-nvidia | 5.15.0-1098.99 | USN-8096-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-6.8 | 6.8.0-1051.54~22.04.1 | USN-8185-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | 5.15.0-1055.55 | USN-8096-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra-igx | 5.15.0-1044.44 | USN-8096-5 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 5.15.0-1100.106 | USN-8096-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-oracle-6.8 | 6.8.0-1049.50~22.04.1 | USN-8203-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +32 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-xilinx-zynqmp | 5.15.0-1067.71 | USN-8096-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +28 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +14 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe-edge | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-raspi-realtime | 6.8.0-2042.43 | USN-8204-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-realtime | 6.8.1-1047.48 | USN-8184-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-realtime-6.14 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-realtime-6.17 | 6.17.0-1010.11~24.04.1 | USN-8177-2 |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS | linux-intel-iot-realtime | 5.15.0-1094.96 | USN-8116-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS | linux-realtime | 5.15.0-1102.111 | USN-8096-4 |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS | linux-realtime-6.8 | 6.8.1-1047.48~22.04.1 | USN-8184-1 |
| 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 24.04 LTS | linux-aws-fips | 6.8.0-1052.55+fips1 | USN-8179-2 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-azure-fips | 6.8.0-1053.59+fips1 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-fips | 6.8.0-110.110+fips2 | USN-8179-2 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-gcp-fips | 6.8.0-1054.57+fips1 | USN-8179-2 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 22.04 LTS | linux-aws-fips | 5.15.0-1103.110+fips1 | USN-8096-2 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 22.04 LTS | linux-azure-fips | 5.15.0-1109.118+fips1 | USN-8163-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 22.04 LTS | linux-fips | 5.15.0-173.183+fips1 | USN-8096-2 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 22.04 LTS | linux-gcp-fips | 5.15.0-1103.112+fips1 | USN-8096-2 |
| 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 +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux +10 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-aws-5.15 | 5.15.0-1103.110~20.04.1 | USN-8096-3 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-azure-5.15 | 5.15.0-1110.119~20.04.1 | USN-8243-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-gcp-5.15 | 5.15.0-1103.112~20.04.1 | USN-8096-3 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-hwe-5.15 +1 | 5.15.0-173.183~20.04.1 | USN-8096-3 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-ibm-5.15 | 5.15.0-1097.100~20.04.1 | USN-8096-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-intel-iotg-5.15 | 5.15.0-1098.104~20.04.1 | USN-8096-3 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15 | 5.15.0-1055.55~20.04.1 | USN-8096-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-oracle-5.15 | 5.15.0-1100.106~20.04.1 | USN-8096-3 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-riscv-5.15 | 5.15.0-1097.101~20.04.1 | — |
| 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-aws +2 | No fix yet | — |
Azure Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Linux 3 | kernel | 6.6.121.1-1 | — |
Advisories 33
- WID-SEC-2026-0086 Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Nov 11, 2026
- USN-8440-1 linux-azure-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 7, 2026
- USN-8096-1 linux, linux-aws, linux-gcp, linux-gkeop, linux-ibm, linux-ibm-5.15, linux-intel-iotg, linux-kvm, linux-lowlatency, linux-nvidia, linux-nvidia-tegra, linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15, linux-oracle, linux-xilinx-zynqmp vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8179-1 linux, linux-aws, linux-aws-6.8, linux-gcp, linux-gke, linux-gkeop, linux-ibm, linux-lowlatency, linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8183-2 linux-aws, linux-aws-6.17, linux-hwe-6.17, linux-oracle, linux-oracle-6.17 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8243-1 linux-azure-5.15 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8203-1 linux-oracle, linux-oracle-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8204-1 linux-raspi-realtime vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8184-1 linux-realtime, linux-realtime-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8185-1 linux-nvidia, linux-nvidia-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8185-2 linux-nvidia-lowlatency vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8096-3 linux-aws-5.15, linux-gcp-5.15, linux-gke, linux-hwe-5.15, linux-intel-iotg-5.15, linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15, linux-oracle-5.15 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8179-3 linux-hwe-6.8, linux-ibm-6.8, linux-raspi vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8265-1 linux-nvidia-tegra vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8258-1 linux-azure vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8116-1 linux-intel-iot-realtime vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8179-4 linux-gcp-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8096-2 linux-fips, linux-aws-fips, linux-gcp-fips vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8163-1 linux-azure-fips vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8183-1 linux-gcp, linux-gcp-6.17 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8245-1 linux-azure, linux-azure-6.17, linux-oem-6.17 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8177-2 linux-realtime-6.17 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8141-1 linux-raspi vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8179-2 linux-aws-fips, linux-fips, linux-gcp-fips vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8163-2 linux-azure vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8096-5 linux-nvidia-tegra-igx vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8177-1 linux, linux-realtime vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8096-4 linux-realtime vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8261-1 linux-xilinx vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Sep 7, 2026
- DSA-6127-1 linux - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-6126-1 linux - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-4475-1 linux - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Feb 10, 2026
- DLA-4476-1 linux-6.1 - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Feb 10, 2026
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7f2bae0c881aa1e0a6318756df692cc13df2cc83
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3d95ed8cf980fdfa67a3ab9491357521ae576168
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/64587ab4d1f16fc94f70e04fa87b2e3f69f8a7bb
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3d65e27e57aaa9d66709fda4cbfb62a87c04a3f5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c89845fae250efdd59c1d4ec60e9e1c652cee4b6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0dde30753c1e8648665dbe069d814e540ce2fd37
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d33f89b34aa313f50f9a512d58dd288999f246b0