CVE-2023-53306 in Linux
Résumé
par VulDB • 26/05/2026
Based on the kernel log and the specific error message provided, here is an analysis of the issue and the recommended solution.
### **Root Cause Analysis**
1. **The Error Message**: > `To be able to delete this entry, clear its dirty mark before invalidate_inode_pages2_range().`
This is a **XFS filesystem assertion failure** (or panic) triggered in the kernel source code. It occurs when the XFS code attempts to invalidate (remove) pages from the page cache, but one or more of those pages are still marked as **dirty** (modified in memory but not yet written to disk).
2. **The Context**: - The stack trace shows the fault occurred during a page fault (`exc_page_fault`, `do_user_addr_fault`, `handle_mm_fault`). - The call chain involves `__xfs_filemap_fault`, indicating that a process was trying to access a file mapped from the XFS filesystem, and the kernel was trying to bring the page into memory or handle a fault related to it. - The specific function `invalidate_inode_pages2_range()` is typically called when: - A file is being truncated. - A file is being unlinked (deleted). - The filesystem is being unmounted. - Memory pressure requires reclaiming pages.
3. **Why It Happens**: XFS requires that all pages being invalidated must be clean (i.e., their data has been safely written to disk). If a page is dirty, it means modifications are pending. Invalidating a dirty page without writing it back first would result in **data loss**. The kernel detects this inconsistency and triggers the assertion to prevent silent data corruption.
This bug is often triggered by: - **Race conditions** in file I/O operations. - **Buggy drivers or applications** that modify memory-mapped files incorrectly. - **Kernel bugs** in XFS or the VFS layer (less common in stable kernels, but possible). - **Hardware issues** (e.g., failing storage causing I/O errors that leave pages in an inconsistent state).
---
### **Solutions & Workarounds**
#### **1. Immediate Mitigation** - **Reboot the system**: This is the only way to clear the current state. The system is likely in an unstable state. - **Check for recent changes**: Did you recently update the kernel, XFS tools, or install new storage drivers?
#### **2. Long-Term Fixes**
##### **A. Update the Kernel** This issue has been addressed in several kernel versions. The assertion was added to catch bugs, but the underlying race condition may have been fixed in newer kernels. - **Action**: Upgrade to the latest stable Linux kernel (e.g., 6.1, 6.6, or newer). - **Check for patches**: Look for commits related to `xfs: fix dirty page invalidation` or similar.
##### **B. Check for Filesystem Corruption** Run a filesystem check to ensure there is no underlying corruption. ```bash sudo xfs_repair /dev/your_xfs_partition ``` > **Warning**: Do not run `xfs_repair` on a mounted filesystem. Unmount it first or boot from a live USB.
##### **C. Identify the Triggering Application** The stack trace shows the fault occurred in user space (`RIP: 0x7f14a0b589ca`). Try to identify which process was accessing the file. - Check `dmesg` or `journalctl` for the process name associated with the page fault. - Common culprits: - Applications using `mmap()` on XFS files. - Database systems (PostgreSQL, MySQL) with misconfigured storage. - Virtualization software (QEMU/KVM) with disk images on XFS.
##### **D. Disable XFS Dirty Page Tracking (Not Recommended)** There is no safe kernel parameter to disable this check. Doing so would risk data loss.
##### **E. Check for Known Bugs** Search the Linux kernel mailing list (LKML) or bug trackers for: - `xfs invalidate_inode_pages2_range dirty` - `xfs page fault assertion`
Example relevant commit (if applicable): - Commit `a1b2c3d4` (hypothetical) might fix a race in `xfs_filemap_fault`.
---
### **How to Prevent Future Occurrences**
1. **Keep the Kernel Updated**: Ensure you are running a kernel version that includes fixes for XFS page cache issues. 2. **Monitor I/O Errors**: Use `dmesg | grep -i error` to check for underlying storage issues. 3. **Avoid Aggressive Truncation
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.