Linux Kernel up to 6.1.28/6.2.15/6.3.2 btrfs fs/btrfs/ioctl.c exclusive_operation assertion

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.28/6.2.15/6.3.2 and classified as critical. This affects the function exclusive_operation of the file fs/btrfs/ioctl.c of the component btrfs. The manipulation leads to assertion. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2023-54002. There is no exploit available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.28/6.2.15/6.3.2. This issue affects the function exclusive_operation of the file fs/btrfs/ioctl.c of the component btrfs. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a assertion vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-617. The product contains an assert() or similar statement that can be triggered by an attacker, which leads to an application exit or other behavior that is more severe than necessary. Impacted is availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: fix assertion of exclop condition when starting balance Balance as exclusive state is compatible with paused balance and device add, which makes some things more complicated. The assertion of valid states when starting from paused balance needs to take into account two more states, the combinations can be hit when there are several threads racing to start balance and device add. This won't typically happen when the commands are started from command line. Scenario 1: With exclusive_operation state == BTRFS_EXCLOP_NONE. Concurrently adding multiple devices to the same mount point and btrfs_exclop_finish executed finishes before assertion in btrfs_exclop_balance, exclusive_operation will changed to BTRFS_EXCLOP_NONE state which lead to assertion failed: fs_info->exclusive_operation == BTRFS_EXCLOP_BALANCE || fs_info->exclusive_operation == BTRFS_EXCLOP_DEV_ADD, in fs/btrfs/ioctl.c:456 Call Trace: <TASK> btrfs_exclop_balance+0x13c/0x310 ? memdup_user+0xab/0xc0 ? PTR_ERR+0x17/0x20 btrfs_ioctl_add_dev+0x2ee/0x320 btrfs_ioctl+0x9d5/0x10d0 ? btrfs_ioctl_encoded_write+0xb80/0xb80 __x64_sys_ioctl+0x197/0x210 do_syscall_64+0x3c/0xb0 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x63/0xcd Scenario 2: With exclusive_operation state == BTRFS_EXCLOP_BALANCE_PAUSED. Concurrently adding multiple devices to the same mount point and btrfs_exclop_balance executed finish before the latter thread execute assertion in btrfs_exclop_balance, exclusive_operation will changed to BTRFS_EXCLOP_BALANCE_PAUSED state which lead to assertion failed: fs_info->exclusive_operation == BTRFS_EXCLOP_BALANCE || fs_info->exclusive_operation == BTRFS_EXCLOP_DEV_ADD || fs_info->exclusive_operation == BTRFS_EXCLOP_NONE, fs/btrfs/ioctl.c:458 Call Trace: <TASK> btrfs_exclop_balance+0x240/0x410 ? memdup_user+0xab/0xc0 ? PTR_ERR+0x17/0x20 btrfs_ioctl_add_dev+0x2ee/0x320 btrfs_ioctl+0x9d5/0x10d0 ? btrfs_ioctl_encoded_write+0xb80/0xb80 __x64_sys_ioctl+0x197/0x210 do_syscall_64+0x3c/0xb0 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x63/0xcd An example of the failed assertion is below, which shows that the paused balance is also needed to be checked. root@syzkaller:/home/xsk# ./repro Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14 Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14 Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14 Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14 Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14 Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14 Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14 Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14 Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14 [ 416.611428][ T7970] BTRFS info (device loop0): fs_info exclusive_operation: 0 Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14 [ 416.613973][ T7971] BTRFS info (device loop0): fs_info exclusive_operation: 3 Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14 [ 416.615456][ T7972] BTRFS info (device loop0): fs_info exclusive_operation: 3 Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14 [ 416.617528][ T7973] BTRFS info (device loop0): fs_info exclusive_operation: 3 Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14 [ 416.618359][ T7974] BTRFS info (device loop0): fs_info exclusive_operation: 3 Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14 [ 416.622589][ T7975] BTRFS info (device loop0): fs_info exclusive_operation: 3 Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14 [ 416.624034][ T7976] BTRFS info (device loop0): fs_info exclusive_operation: 3 Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14 [ 416.626420][ T7977] BTRFS info (device loop0): fs_info exclusive_operation: 3 Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14 [ 416.627643][ T7978] BTRFS info (device loop0): fs_info exclusive_operation: 3 Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14 [ 416.629006][ T7979] BTRFS info (device loop0): fs_info exclusive_operation: 3 [ 416.630298][ T7980] BTRFS info (device loop0): fs_info exclusive_operation: 3 Fai ---truncated---

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2023-54002 since 12/24/2025. The exploitation is known to be difficult. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 279795 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-54002), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.1.29, 6.2.16 or 6.3.3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 17eaeee4c5f24946aad0298d51f32981c3161d13/7877dc1136ada770622d22041be306539902951b/6062e9e335a3bf409b5118bfe4cc10aff4b6adb1/ac868bc9d136cde6e3eb5de77019a63d57a540ff 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 (279795) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2920). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Debian Linux
• SUSE Linux
• SUSE openSUSE
• Open Source Linux Kernel

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 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
• 6.2.0
• 6.2.1
• 6.2.2
• 6.2.3
• 6.2.4
• 6.2.5
• 6.2.6
• 6.2.7
• 6.2.8
• 6.2.9
• 6.2.10
• 6.2.11
• 6.2.12
• 6.2.13
• 6.2.14
• 6.2.15
• 6.3.0
• 6.3.1
• 6.3.2

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

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