ext4: don't zero the entire extent if EXT4_EXT_DATA_PARTIAL_VALID1
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 7 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: don't zero the entire extent if EXT4_EXT_DATA_PARTIAL_VALID1 When allocating initialized blocks from a large unwritten extent, or when splitting an unwritten extent during end I/O and converting it to initialized, there is currently a potential issue of stale data if the extent needs to be split in the middle. 0 A B N [UUUUUUUUUUUU] U: unwritten extent [--DDDDDDDD--] D: valid data |<- ->| ----> this range needs to be initialized ext4_split_extent() first try to split this extent at B with EXT4_EXT_DATA_ENTIRE_VALID1 and EXT4_EXT_MAY_ZEROOUT flag set, but ext4_split_extent_at() failed to split this extent due to temporary lack of space. It zeroout B to N and mark the entire extent from 0 to N as written. 0 A B N [WWWWWWWWWWWW] W: written extent [SSDDDDDDDDZZ] Z: zeroed, S: stale data ext4_split_extent() then try to split this extent at A with EXT4_EXT_DATA_VALID2 flag set. This time, it split successfully and left a stale written extent from 0 to A. 0 A B N [WW|WWWWWWWWWW] [SS|DDDDDDDDZZ] Fix this by pass EXT4_EXT_DATA_PARTIAL_VALID1 to ext4_split_extent_at() when splitting at B, don't convert the entire extent to written and left it as unwritten after zeroing out B to N. The remaining work is just like the standard two-part split. ext4_split_extent() will pass the EXT4_EXT_DATA_VALID2 flag when it calls ext4_split_extent_at() for the second time, allowing it to properly handle the split. If the split is successful, it will keep extent from 0 to A as unwritten.
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 | 3.2.33 to before 3.3; 3.4.16 to before 3.5; 3.6.4 to before 3.7 | 3.3, 3.5, 3.7 | Patch available | CNA |
| Linux | Linux | 3.7 and later | 6.6.130, 6.12.75, 6.18.14, 6.19.4, 7.0 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 3.2.33 to before 3.3; 3.4.16 to before 3.5; 3.6.4 to before 3.7 Fixed in 3.3, 3.5, 3.7 Patch available CNA
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 3.7 and later Fixed in 6.6.130, 6.12.75, 6.18.14, 6.19.4, 7.0 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 8
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.2.33 to before 3.3; 3.4.16 to before 3.5; 3.6.4 to before 3.7; 3.7.1 to before 6.6.130; 6.7 to before 6.12.75; 6.13 to before 6.18.14; 6.19 to before 6.19.4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.7:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.7 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.7:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.7 rc3 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.7:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.7 rc4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.7:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.7 rc5 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.7:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.7 rc6 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.7:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.7 rc7 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.7:rc8:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.7 rc8 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.2.33 to before 3.3; 3.4.16 to before 3.5; 3.6.4 to before 3.7; 3.7.1 to before 6.6.130; 6.7 to before 6.12.75; 6.13 to before 6.18.14; 6.19 to before 6.19.4 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.7:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.7 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.7:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.7 rc3 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.7:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.7 rc4 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.7:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.7 rc5 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.7:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.7 rc6 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.7:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.7 rc7 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.7:rc8:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.7 rc8 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 3.3, 3.5, 3.7
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.6.130, 6.12.75, 6.18.14, 6.19.4, 7.0
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-45858
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-pqwg-4rrm-3fg7
- 2026-11-03 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-11-03 CVSS score changed · Red Hat
References
Patch 5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/58ddae5d77b1db3a27b891c75a8fa120239ac092
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d17857b4fb9ba5745b59be0ef38fd532991fccbf
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d67c8ecf3d8fda9b8ef80e6f665d84b6d6ac9d88
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7015fcf473796e1d2d876f241bd9e0c36f3d4eef
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1bf6974822d1dba86cf11b5f05498581cf3488a2
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Sources
- CVE-2026-45858 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-45858 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-pqwg-4rrm-3fg7 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-45858 · 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