XFS online repair leaks blocks on memory allocation failure in Linux
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: 4 without a fix
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The Linux kernel from 6.8 is affected. In XFS online repair, a memory allocation failure in xrep_newbt_add_blocks leaks blocks that were reserved for writing a new btree, and callers cannot both undo the transaction and return the error. When that happens, the error path takes the filesystem down.
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: xfs: don't let memory failures leak blocks and kill repairs LOLLM complains that a memory allocation failure in xrep_newbt_add_blocks results in online repair leaking blocks that were previously allocated to write a new btree, but the problem is worse than that -- a limitation of the codebase is that the callers cannot undo the transaction /and/ return the error -- either you undo all changes and commit the transaction, or you error out and the filesystem goes down. However, the new btree space reservation object isn't that big (~48 bytes). Let's just do a NOFAIL allocation and the problem goes away.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
Upgrade to Linux kernel 6.12.113, 6.18.56, 7.2.9 or 7.3, matching your stable branch. Red Hat lists Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 and Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 as affected with no fix available.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.12.113, 6.18.56, 7.2.9, 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 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 |
Not affected: 5 products
- 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
Timeline
- 2026-10-18 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98445
- 2026-10-18 Alias added: GHSA-vx8f-phpg-5qwp
- 2026-10-19 Fix available: Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-10-20 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-20 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-11-06 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
More Linux vulnerabilities
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- 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
Sources
- CVE-2026-98445 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98445 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-vx8f-phpg-5qwp · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98445 · 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