ext4: fix OOB read when checking dotdot dir
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 10 fixed, 3 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: fix OOB read when checking dotdot dir Mounting a corrupted filesystem with directory which contains '.' dir entry with rec_len == block size results in out-of-bounds read (later on, when the corrupted directory is removed). ext4_empty_dir() assumes every ext4 directory contains at least '.' and '..' as directory entries in the first data block. It first loads the '.' dir entry, performs sanity checks by calling ext4_check_dir_entry() and then uses its rec_len member to compute the location of '..' dir entry (in ext4_next_entry). It assumes the '..' dir entry fits into the same data block. If the rec_len of '.' is precisely one block (4KB), it slips through the sanity checks (it is considered the last directory entry in the data block) and leaves "struct ext4_dir_entry_2 *de" point exactly past the memory slot allocated to the data block. The following call to ext4_check_dir_entry() on new value of de then dereferences this pointer which results in out-of-bounds mem access. Fix this by extending __ext4_check_dir_entry() to check for '.' dir entries that reach the end of data block. Make sure to ignore the phony dir entries for checksum (by checking name_len for non-zero). Note: This is reported by KASAN as use-after-free in case another structure was recently freed from the slot past the bound, but it is really an OOB read. This issue was found by syzkaller tool. Call Trace: [ 38.594108] BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in __ext4_check_dir_entry+0x67e/0x710 [ 38.594649] Read of size 2 at addr ffff88802b41a004 by task syz-executor/5375 [ 38.595158] [ 38.595288] CPU: 0 UID: 0 PID: 5375 Comm: syz-executor Not tainted 6.14.0-rc7 #1 [ 38.595298] Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS rel-1.16.3-0-ga6ed6b701f0a-prebuilt.qemu.org 04/01/2014 [ 38.595304] Call Trace: [ 38.595308] <TASK> [ 38.595311] dump_stack_lvl+0xa7/0xd0 [ 38.595325] print_address_description.constprop.0+0x2c/0x3f0 [ 38.595339] ? __ext4_check_dir_entry+0x67e/0x710 [ 38.595349] print_report+0xaa/0x250 [ 38.595359] ? __ext4_check_dir_entry+0x67e/0x710 [ 38.595368] ? kasan_addr_to_slab+0x9/0x90 [ 38.595378] kasan_report+0xab/0xe0 [ 38.595389] ? __ext4_check_dir_entry+0x67e/0x710 [ 38.595400] __ext4_check_dir_entry+0x67e/0x710 [ 38.595410] ext4_empty_dir+0x465/0x990 [ 38.595421] ? __pfx_ext4_empty_dir+0x10/0x10 [ 38.595432] ext4_rmdir.part.0+0x29a/0xd10 [ 38.595441] ? __dquot_initialize+0x2a7/0xbf0 [ 38.595455] ? __pfx_ext4_rmdir.part.0+0x10/0x10 [ 38.595464] ? __pfx___dquot_initialize+0x10/0x10 [ 38.595478] ? down_write+0xdb/0x140 [ 38.595487] ? __pfx_down_write+0x10/0x10 [ 38.595497] ext4_rmdir+0xee/0x140 [ 38.595506] vfs_rmdir+0x209/0x670 [ 38.595517] ? lookup_one_qstr_excl+0x3b/0x190 [ 38.595529] do_rmdir+0x363/0x3c0 [ 38.595537] ? __pfx_do_rmdir+0x10/0x10 [ 38.595544] ? strncpy_from_user+0x1ff/0x2e0 [ 38.595561] __x64_sys_unlinkat+0xf0/0x130 [ 38.595570] do_syscall_64+0x5b/0x180 [ 38.595583] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 2.6.19 and later | 5.4.293, 5.10.236, 5.15.180, 6.1.134, 6.6.87, 6.12.23, 6.13.11, 6.14.2, 6.15 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 2.6.19 and later Fixed in 5.4.293, 5.10.236, 5.15.180, 6.1.134, 6.6.87, 6.12.23, 6.13.11, 6.14.2, 6.15 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.6.19 to before 5.10.236; 5.11 to before 5.15.180; 5.16 to before 6.1.134; 6.2 to before 6.6.87; 6.7 to before 6.12.23; 6.13 to before 6.13.11; 6.14 to before 6.14.2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.6.19 to before 5.10.236; 5.11 to before 5.15.180; 5.16 to before 6.1.134; 6.2 to before 6.6.87; 6.7 to before 6.12.23; 6.13 to before 6.13.11; 6.14 to before 6.14.2 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.4.293, 5.10.236, 5.15.180, 6.1.134, 6.6.87, 6.12.23, 6.13.11, 6.14.2, 6.15
Red Hat 2 advisories
- RHSA-2025:8643 Released 2025-06-09 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-570.21.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-570.21.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-570.21.1.el9_6 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) kernel-5.14.0-570.21.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-5.14.0-570.21.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-core-5.14.0-570.21.1.el9_6 +28
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-570.21.1.el9_6, libperf-5.14.0-570.21.1.el9_6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-570.21.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-64k-5.14.0-570.21.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-64k-core-5.14.0-570.21.1.el9_6 +21
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-570.21.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-570.21.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-570.21.1.el9_6 +11
- RHSA-2025:8374 Released 2025-06-02 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) kernel-64k-debug-devel-6.12.0-55.14.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-6.12.0-55.14.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-devel-6.12.0-55.14.1.el10_0 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) kernel-6.12.0-55.14.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-6.12.0-55.14.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-core-6.12.0-55.14.1.el10_0 +28
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) kernel-tools-libs-devel-6.12.0-55.14.1.el10_0, libperf-6.12.0-55.14.1.el10_0
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-55.14.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-64k-6.12.0-55.14.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-64k-core-6.12.0-55.14.1.el10_0 +21
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-55.14.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-core-6.12.0-55.14.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-debug-6.12.0-55.14.1.el10_0 +11
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:8374 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:8643 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:8374 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:8643 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:8374 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:8643 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:8374 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:8643 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:8374 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:8643 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-37785
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-w7jc-wqpw-qxqq
- 2026-10-29 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
Patch 8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e47f472a664d70a3d104a6c2a035cdff55a719b4
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b7531a4f99c3887439d778afaf418d1a01a5f01b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/89503e5eae64637d0fa2218912b54660effe7d93
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/52a5509ab19a5d3afe301165d9b5787bba34d842
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b47584c556444cf7acb66b26a62cbc348eb92b78
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ac28c5684c1cdab650a7e5065b19e91577d37a4b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/53bc45da8d8da92ec07877f5922b130562eb4b00
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d5e206778e96e8667d3bde695ad372c296dc9353
More Linux Kernel vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-26358 tls: fix handling of zero-length records on the rx_list KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-38352 netfilter: bridge: make ebt_snat ARP rewrite writable KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2013-05264 The (1) get_user and (2) put_user API functions in the Linux kernel before 3.5.5 on the… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2022-00125 Integer overflow in kernel KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2013-01864 The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2021-05514 Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.3
Sources
- CVE-2025-37785 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-37785 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-w7jc-wqpw-qxqq · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2025-37785 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences