Linux Kernel up to 6.12.81/6.18.22/6.19.12 lookup_extent_data_ref return value

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.81/6.18.22/6.19.12. Impacted is the function lookup_extent_data_ref. Performing a manipulation results in return value. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-31666. There is no available exploit. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.81/6.18.22/6.19.12. This affects the function lookup_extent_data_ref. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a return value vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-252. The product does not check the return value from a method or function, which can prevent it from detecting unexpected states and conditions. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: fix incorrect return value after changing leaf in lookup_extent_data_ref() After commit 1618aa3c2e01 ("btrfs: simplify return variables in lookup_extent_data_ref()"), the err and ret variables were merged into a single ret variable. However, when btrfs_next_leaf() returns 0 (success), ret is overwritten from -ENOENT to 0. If the first key in the next leaf does not match (different objectid or type), the function returns 0 instead of -ENOENT, making the caller believe the lookup succeeded when it did not. This can lead to operations on the wrong extent tree item, potentially causing extent tree corruption. Fix this by returning -ENOENT directly when the key does not match, instead of relying on the ret variable.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-31666 since 03/09/2026. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 04/24/2026).

Upgrading to version 6.12.82, 6.18.23 or 6.19.13 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 4125a194db4a6cf91f619f38788272651cb97dce/450e6a685d0cad95b15f8af152057bd0bf79f50b/ab1e022379c3c811aa72da8eb0c7507859a1d0f5/316fb1b3169efb081d2db910cbbfef445afa03b9 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 vulnerability database at EUVD (EUVD-2026-25559). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.12.0
• 6.12.1
• 6.12.2
• 6.12.3
• 6.12.4
• 6.12.5
• 6.12.6
• 6.12.7
• 6.12.8
• 6.12.9
• 6.12.10
• 6.12.11
• 6.12.12
• 6.12.13
• 6.12.14
• 6.12.15
• 6.12.16
• 6.12.17
• 6.12.18
• 6.12.19
• 6.12.20
• 6.12.21
• 6.12.22
• 6.12.23
• 6.12.24
• 6.12.25
• 6.12.26
• 6.12.27
• 6.12.28
• 6.12.29
• 6.12.30
• 6.12.31
• 6.12.32
• 6.12.33
• 6.12.34
• 6.12.35
• 6.12.36
• 6.12.37
• 6.12.38
• 6.12.39
• 6.12.40
• 6.12.41
• 6.12.42
• 6.12.43
• 6.12.44
• 6.12.45
• 6.12.46
• 6.12.47
• 6.12.48
• 6.12.49
• 6.12.50
• 6.12.51
• 6.12.52
• 6.12.53
• 6.12.54
• 6.12.55
• 6.12.56
• 6.12.57
• 6.12.58
• 6.12.59
• 6.12.60
• 6.12.61
• 6.12.62
• 6.12.63
• 6.12.64
• 6.12.65
• 6.12.66
• 6.12.67
• 6.12.68
• 6.12.69
• 6.12.70
• 6.12.71
• 6.12.72
• 6.12.73
• 6.12.74
• 6.12.75
• 6.12.76
• 6.12.77
• 6.12.78
• 6.12.79
• 6.12.80
• 6.12.81
• 6.18.0
• 6.18.1
• 6.18.2
• 6.18.3
• 6.18.4
• 6.18.5
• 6.18.6
• 6.18.7
• 6.18.8
• 6.18.9
• 6.18.10
• 6.18.11
• 6.18.12
• 6.18.13
• 6.18.14
• 6.18.15
• 6.18.16
• 6.18.17
• 6.18.18
• 6.18.19
• 6.18.20
• 6.18.21
• 6.18.22
• 6.19.0
• 6.19.1
• 6.19.2
• 6.19.3
• 6.19.4
• 6.19.5
• 6.19.6
• 6.19.7
• 6.19.8
• 6.19.9
• 6.19.10
• 6.19.11
• 6.19.12

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

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