ocfs2: fix circular locking dependency in ocfs2_init_acl()
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
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- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Fixed
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ocfs2: fix circular locking dependency in ocfs2_init_acl() A lockdep warning indicates a circular locking dependency between `&oi->ip_xattr_sem` and `&journal->j_trans_barrier`: WARNING: possible circular locking dependency detected is trying to acquire lock: (&oi->ip_xattr_sem){++++}-{4:4}, at: ocfs2_init_acl+0x2fd/0x7e0 fs/ocfs2/acl.c:367 but task is already holding lock: (&journal->j_trans_barrier){.+.+}-{4:4}, at: ocfs2_start_trans+0x3ab/0x700 fs/ocfs2/journal.c:369 The deadlock involves two code paths: Path 1 (setxattr) where `ocfs2_xattr_set()` acquires `ip_xattr_sem` (write) and then starts a transaction, which acquires `j_trans_barrier` (read); and Path 2 (mkdir/mknod) where `ocfs2_mknod()` starts a transaction (`j_trans_barrier` read) and then calls `ocfs2_init_acl()`, which attempts to acquire `ip_xattr_sem` (read) on the parent directory to retrieve the default ACL. Because rw_semaphores are subject to writer priority, a pending writer on `j_trans_barrier` (e.g., the journal commit thread) can cause Path 1 to block, while Path 2 is blocked waiting for Path 1 to release `ip_xattr_sem`. The patch fixes the lock ordering by precomputing the ACL state before starting the OCFS2 transaction, while preserving POSIX ACL storage semantics and the existing inode/security initialization order. By reading the parent directory's default ACL and preparing the new inode's ACLs outside the transaction, `ip_xattr_sem` is always acquired before `j_trans_barrier`. `struct ocfs2_acl_state` encapsulates the prepared ACL state, while `ocfs2_acl_init_prepare()` and `ocfs2_acl_init_release()` avoid code duplication between `ocfs2_mknod()` and `ocfs2_init_security_and_acl()`. `ocfs2_calc_xattr_init()` and `ocfs2_init_acl()` use this precomputed state, removing internal `ip_xattr_sem` acquisition and redundant disk reads. Additionally, remove the `ip_xattr_sem` acquisition from `ocfs2_xattr_set_handle()`. This function is only used while initializing a new inode that has not yet been inserted into the inode hash or attached to a dentry, meaning there is no risk of concurrent access and the lock is unnecessary.
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 | 3.18.111 to before 3.19; 4.4.134 to before 4.5; 4.9.104 to before 4.10; 4.14.37 to before 4.15 | 3.19, 4.5, 4.10, 4.15 | Patch available | CNA |
| Linux | Linux | 4.16 and later | 5.10.270, 5.15.221, 6.1.188, 6.6.157, 6.12.110, 6.18.52, 7.2.6, 7.3 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 3.18.111 to before 3.19; 4.4.134 to before 4.5; 4.9.104 to before 4.10; 4.14.37 to before 4.15 Fixed in 3.19, 4.5, 4.10, 4.15 Patch available CNA
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 4.16 and later Fixed in 5.10.270, 5.15.221, 6.1.188, 6.6.157, 6.12.110, 6.18.52, 7.2.6, 7.3 Patch available CNA
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 3.19, 4.5, 4.10, 4.15
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.270, 5.15.221, 6.1.188, 6.6.157, 6.12.110, 6.18.52, 7.2.6, 7.3
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
Not affected: 7 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-93252
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-358c-95r2-55gw
- 2026-10-19 Fix available: Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-11-06 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-11-06 CVSS score added · Red Hat
References
Other 8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4936d4464d1ae10b5fbba64374085a0dcc060560
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/caf3056936fb8b5ce92e419cf8b246ce9c437343
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5b7b3c50c39ad0dc27e7418981e01c4183273f89
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8d88f52fbbbcc18adf4091a955511d0cf605bf11
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8931403ee3dcfe8a24a5267efec9d9460ab7a1b5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f8747d81aa6d3efe3ee339a9d912ff3ca6e4d758
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1222f7a3183b35c0c566899fdaead5c7c4043076
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bd7c05fb4a4776dff5a87b19008d28458647d15d
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Sources
- CVE-2026-93252 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-93252 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-358c-95r2-55gw · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-93252 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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