Linux Kernel up to 6.3.2 ext4_finish_convert_inline_dir deadlock

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as critical has been identified in Linux Kernel up to 6.3.2. This affects the function ext4_finish_convert_inline_dir. The manipulation results in deadlock. This vulnerability was named CVE-2023-54311. There is no available exploit. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.3.2. Affected is the function ext4_finish_convert_inline_dir. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a deadlock vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-833. The product contains multiple threads or executable segments that are waiting for each other to release a necessary lock, resulting in deadlock. This is going to have an impact on availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: fix deadlock when converting an inline directory in nojournal mode In no journal mode, ext4_finish_convert_inline_dir() can self-deadlock by calling ext4_handle_dirty_dirblock() when it already has taken the directory lock. There is a similar self-deadlock in ext4_incvert_inline_data_nolock() for data files which we'll fix at the same time. A simple reproducer demonstrating the problem: mke2fs -Fq -t ext2 -O inline_data -b 4k /dev/vdc 64 mount -t ext4 -o dirsync /dev/vdc /vdc cd /vdc mkdir file0 cd file0 touch file0 touch file1 attr -s BurnSpaceInEA -V abcde . touch supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2023-54311 since 12/30/2025. The exploitability is told to be difficult. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 281499 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-54311), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.4.243, 5.10.180, 5.15.112, 6.1.29, 6.2.16 or 6.3.3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch b4fa4768c9acff77245d672d855d2c88294850b1/5f8b55136ad787aed2c184f7cb3e93772ae637a3/640c8c365999c6f23447ac766437236ad88317c5/665cc3ba50330049524c1d275bc840a8f28dde73/0b1c4357bb21d9770451a1bdb8d419ea10bada88/804de0c72cd473e186ca4e1f6287d45431b14e5a/f4ce24f54d9cca4f09a395f3eecce20d6bec4663 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 (281499) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2941). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Open Source Linux Kernel

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.4.242
• 5.10.179
• 5.15.111
• 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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Entryinfo

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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