Linux Kernel up to 6.5.4 ext4 ext4_mb_new_inode_pa allocation of resources

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4.6	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 5.4.259/5.10.199/5.15.137/6.1.60/6.5.4 and classified as critical. This affects the function ext4_mb_new_inode_pa of the component ext4. This manipulation causes allocation of resources. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2023-54069. No exploit is available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.4.259/5.10.199/5.15.137/6.1.60/6.5.4. Affected by this vulnerability is the function ext4_mb_new_inode_pa of the component ext4. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a allocation of resources vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-770. The product allocates a reusable resource or group of resources on behalf of an actor without imposing any restrictions on the size or number of resources that can be allocated, in violation of the intended security policy for that actor. As an impact it is known to affect availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: fix BUG in ext4_mb_new_inode_pa() due to overflow When we calculate the end position of ext4_free_extent, this position may be exactly where ext4_lblk_t (i.e. uint) overflows. For example, if ac_g_ex.fe_logical is 4294965248 and ac_orig_goal_len is 2048, then the computed end is 0x100000000, which is 0. If ac->ac_o_ex.fe_logical is not the first case of adjusting the best extent, that is, new_bex_end > 0, the following BUG_ON will be triggered: ========================================================= kernel BUG at fs/ext4/mballoc.c:5116! invalid opcode: 0000 [#1] PREEMPT SMP PTI CPU: 3 PID: 673 Comm: xfs_io Tainted: G E 6.5.0-rc1+ #279 RIP: 0010:ext4_mb_new_inode_pa+0xc5/0x430 Call Trace: <TASK> ext4_mb_use_best_found+0x203/0x2f0 ext4_mb_try_best_found+0x163/0x240 ext4_mb_regular_allocator+0x158/0x1550 ext4_mb_new_blocks+0x86a/0xe10 ext4_ext_map_blocks+0xb0c/0x13a0 ext4_map_blocks+0x2cd/0x8f0 ext4_iomap_begin+0x27b/0x400 iomap_iter+0x222/0x3d0 __iomap_dio_rw+0x243/0xcb0 iomap_dio_rw+0x16/0x80 ========================================================= A simple reproducer demonstrating the problem: mkfs.ext4 -F /dev/sda -b 4096 100M mount /dev/sda /tmp/test fallocate -l1M /tmp/test/tmp fallocate -l10M /tmp/test/file fallocate -i -o 1M -l16777203M /tmp/test/file fsstress -d /tmp/test -l 0 -n 100000 -p 8 & sleep 10 && killall -9 fsstress rm -f /tmp/test/tmp xfs_io -c "open -ad /tmp/test/file" -c "pwrite -S 0xff 0 8192" We simply refactor the logic for adjusting the best extent by adding a temporary ext4_free_extent ex and use extent_logical_end() to avoid overflow, which also simplifies the code.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2023-54069 since 12/24/2025. The exploitation appears to be difficult. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 279890 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-54069), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.4.260, 5.10.200, 5.15.138, 6.1.61 or 6.5.5 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 83ecffd40c65844a73c2e93d7c841455786605ac/58fe961c606c446f5612f6897827b1cac42c2e89/f2c3a3aa6f11ad9878dbc3a067b0633e07b586c1/fcefddf3a151b2c416b20120c06bb1ba9ad676fb/b7e9ec38b6a0beb5a49cd1e76be0a9a07c218e90/bc056e7163ac7db945366de219745cf94f32a3e6 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 (279890) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2929). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Affected

• Open Source Linux Kernel

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.4.259
• 5.10.199
• 5.15.137
• 6.1.0
• 6.1.1
• 6.1.2
• 6.1.3
• 6.1.4
• 6.1.5
• 6.1.6
• 6.1.7
• 6.1.8
• 6.1.9
• 6.1.10
• 6.1.11
• 6.1.12
• 6.1.13
• 6.1.14
• 6.1.15
• 6.1.16
• 6.1.17
• 6.1.18
• 6.1.19
• 6.1.20
• 6.1.21
• 6.1.22
• 6.1.23
• 6.1.24
• 6.1.25
• 6.1.26
• 6.1.27
• 6.1.28
• 6.1.29
• 6.1.30
• 6.1.31
• 6.1.32
• 6.1.33
• 6.1.34
• 6.1.35
• 6.1.36
• 6.1.37
• 6.1.38
• 6.1.39
• 6.1.40
• 6.1.41
• 6.1.42
• 6.1.43
• 6.1.44
• 6.1.45
• 6.1.46
• 6.1.47
• 6.1.48
• 6.1.49
• 6.1.50
• 6.1.51
• 6.1.52
• 6.1.53
• 6.1.54
• 6.1.55
• 6.1.56
• 6.1.57
• 6.1.58
• 6.1.59
• 6.1.60
• 6.5.0
• 6.5.1
• 6.5.2
• 6.5.3
• 6.5.4

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.6

VulDB Base Score: 4.8
VulDB Temp Score: 4.6
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Allocation of resources
CWE: CWE-770 / CWE-400 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Nessus ID: 279890
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-54069

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.4.260/5.10.200/5.15.138/6.1.61/6.5.5
Patch: 83ecffd40c65844a73c2e93d7c841455786605ac/58fe961c606c446f5612f6897827b1cac42c2e89/f2c3a3aa6f11ad9878dbc3a067b0633e07b586c1/fcefddf3a151b2c416b20120c06bb1ba9ad676fb/b7e9ec38b6a0beb5a49cd1e76be0a9a07c218e90/bc056e7163ac7db945366de219745cf94f32a3e6

Timelineinfo

12/24/2025 Advisory disclosed
12/24/2025 +0 days CVE reserved
12/24/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
01/02/2026 +9 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2023-54069 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2023-54069
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-338005
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2929 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 12/24/2025 14:37
Updated: 01/02/2026 15:22
Changes: 12/24/2025 14:37 (59), 12/25/2025 14:21 (1), 12/26/2025 18:27 (2), 01/02/2026 15:22 (7)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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Discussion

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