Btrfs verity rollback can force the whole filesystem read-only
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
- Partial Red Hat: 2 without a fix
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The Linux kernel btrfs filesystem from 5.15 mishandles lack of space when it cleans up fs-verity items. When enable_verity() hits a qgroup limit, the rollback cannot get its metadata reservation, so the whole filesystem is forced read-only even though the limit applies to one subvolume. Orphan cleanup at the next mount fails the same way, leaving the leftover items in place, so the subvolume can stay unreachable or the next read-write mount can fail.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
Description from the CNA
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: handle lack of space when cleaning up verity items When enable_verity() hits the qgroup limit, rollback_verity() needs its own metadata reservation. When the qgroup limit or lack of space refuses the rollback, the whole filesystem is forced read-only even though the qgroup limit was for one subvolume only. Also orphan cleanup at the next mount fails the same way, so the leftover items are never removed: with -EDQUOT the subvolume stays unreachable, and with -ENOSPC on a full filesystem the next read-write mount fails. Start transactions with btrfs_start_transaction_fallback_global_rsv() in btrfs_orphan_cleanup(), drop_verity_items() and rollback_verity(). Those calls only delete items and free the space in the end, so they may use the global reserve and skip the qgroup limit, which avoids -ENOSPC and -EDQUOT.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
Fixed Linux kernel versions are 6.18.54, 7.2.8 and 7.3. Red Hat lists no fix available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 and no fix planned for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.18.54, 7.2.8, 7.3
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 |
Not affected: 5 products
- 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
- 2026-10-06 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98279
- 2026-10-06 Alias added: GHSA-ccw7-243p-5699
- 2026-10-11 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-11 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-19 Fix available: Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-11-06 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
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Sources
- CVE-2026-98279 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98279 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-ccw7-243p-5699 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98279 · 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