Linux Kernel up to 6.12.61/6.17.11/6.18.0 fs/ext4/indirect.c ext4_destroy_inline_data_nolock buffer overflow

CVSS Meta Temp Score
CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.
Current Exploit Price (≈)
Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.
CTI Interest Score
Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
7.6$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as critical has been identified in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.61/6.17.11/6.18.0. This impacts the function ext4_destroy_inline_data_nolock of the file fs/ext4/indirect.c. Executing a manipulation can lead to buffer overflow. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2025-68261. There is not any exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.61/6.17.11/6.18.0. It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects the function ext4_destroy_inline_data_nolock of the file fs/ext4/indirect.c. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a buffer overflow vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-120. The product copies an input buffer to an output buffer without verifying that the size of the input buffer is less than the size of the output buffer, leading to a buffer overflow. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: add i_data_sem protection in ext4_destroy_inline_data_nolock() Fix a race between inline data destruction and block mapping. The function ext4_destroy_inline_data_nolock() changes the inode data layout by clearing EXT4_INODE_INLINE_DATA and setting EXT4_INODE_EXTENTS. At the same time, another thread may execute ext4_map_blocks(), which tests EXT4_INODE_EXTENTS to decide whether to call ext4_ext_map_blocks() or ext4_ind_map_blocks(). Without i_data_sem protection, ext4_ind_map_blocks() may receive inode with EXT4_INODE_EXTENTS flag and triggering assert. kernel BUG at fs/ext4/indirect.c:546! EXT4-fs (loop2): unmounting filesystem. invalid opcode: 0000 [#1] PREEMPT SMP KASAN NOPTI Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 1.12.0-1 04/01/2014 RIP: 0010:ext4_ind_map_blocks.cold+0x2b/0x5a fs/ext4/indirect.c:546 Call Trace: <TASK> ext4_map_blocks+0xb9b/0x16f0 fs/ext4/inode.c:681 _ext4_get_block+0x242/0x590 fs/ext4/inode.c:822 ext4_block_write_begin+0x48b/0x12c0 fs/ext4/inode.c:1124 ext4_write_begin+0x598/0xef0 fs/ext4/inode.c:1255 ext4_da_write_begin+0x21e/0x9c0 fs/ext4/inode.c:3000 generic_perform_write+0x259/0x5d0 mm/filemap.c:3846 ext4_buffered_write_iter+0x15b/0x470 fs/ext4/file.c:285 ext4_file_write_iter+0x8e0/0x17f0 fs/ext4/file.c:679 call_write_iter include/linux/fs.h:2271 [inline] do_iter_readv_writev+0x212/0x3c0 fs/read_write.c:735 do_iter_write+0x186/0x710 fs/read_write.c:861 vfs_iter_write+0x70/0xa0 fs/read_write.c:902 iter_file_splice_write+0x73b/0xc90 fs/splice.c:685 do_splice_from fs/splice.c:763 [inline] direct_splice_actor+0x10f/0x170 fs/splice.c:950 splice_direct_to_actor+0x33a/0xa10 fs/splice.c:896 do_splice_direct+0x1a9/0x280 fs/splice.c:1002 do_sendfile+0xb13/0x12c0 fs/read_write.c:1255 __do_sys_sendfile64 fs/read_write.c:1323 [inline] __se_sys_sendfile64 fs/read_write.c:1309 [inline] __x64_sys_sendfile64+0x1cf/0x210 fs/read_write.c:1309 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/common.c:51 [inline] do_syscall_64+0x35/0x80 arch/x86/entry/common.c:81 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x6e/0xd8

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-68261 since 12/16/2025. The exploitation appears to be easy. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 02/22/2026).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 298404 (Debian dsa-6127 : affs-modules-6.1.0-37-4kc-malta-di - security update), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.12.62, 6.17.12, 6.18.1 or 6.19-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 22a76b0861ae61a299c8e126c1aca8c4fda820fd/ba8aeff294ac7ff6dfe293663d815c54c5ee218c/5cad18e527ba8a9ca5463cc170073eeb5a4826f4/0cd8feea8777f8d9b9a862b89c688b049a5c8475 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (298404), EUVD (EUVD-2025-203741) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2868). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Affected

  • Debian Linux
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • SUSE openSUSE
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • Open Source Linux Kernel

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 8.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.6

VulDB Base Score: 8.0
VulDB Temp Score: 7.6
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Buffer overflow
CWE: CWE-120 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-DayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
TodayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

Nessus ID: 298404
Nessus Name: Debian dsa-6127 : affs-modules-6.1.0-37-4kc-malta-di - security update

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.12.62/6.17.12/6.18.1/6.19-rc1
Patch: 22a76b0861ae61a299c8e126c1aca8c4fda820fd/ba8aeff294ac7ff6dfe293663d815c54c5ee218c/5cad18e527ba8a9ca5463cc170073eeb5a4826f4/0cd8feea8777f8d9b9a862b89c688b049a5c8475

Timelineinfo

12/16/2025 Advisory disclosed
12/16/2025 +0 days CVE reserved
12/16/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
02/22/2026 +68 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-68261 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-68261
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-336796
EUVD: 🔒
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2868 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 12/16/2025 16:07
Updated: 02/22/2026 06:28
Changes: 12/16/2025 16:07 (59), 12/17/2025 11:04 (1), 01/12/2026 07:47 (1), 01/20/2026 04:42 (7), 02/04/2026 06:11 (1), 02/10/2026 09:45 (2), 02/22/2026 06:28 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Discussion

No comments yet. Languages: en.

Please log in to comment.

◂ PreviousOverviewNext ▸

Do you need the next level of professionalism?

Upgrade your account now!