Linux Kernel up to 7.2.0 ext4 __ext4_new_inode state issue

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5.3	$0-$5k	0.00-

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability marked as critical has been reported in Linux Kernel up to 7.2.0. This issue affects the function __ext4_new_inode of the component ext4. This manipulation causes state issue. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-80806. The attack can be initiated remotely. There is not any exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2.0. It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function __ext4_new_inode of the component ext4. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a state issue vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-371. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: don't enable DAX on new encrypted files Currently, when a new encrypted regular file is created, the call to ext4_set_inode_flags(inode, init=true) in __ext4_new_inode() is made before EXT4_INODE_ENCRYPT is set. As a result, it can set S_DAX if the filesystem is mounted with "-o dax=always". EXT4_INODE_ENCRYPT then actually gets set a bit later in __ext4_new_inode(), when it calls fscrypt_set_context() which calls ext4_set_context(). ext4_set_context() sets EXT4_INODE_ENCRYPT and calls ext4_set_inode_flags(inode, init=false) to set S_ENCRYPTED too. This was intended to clear S_DAX as well. However, this was broken by commit 043546e46dc7 ("fs/ext4: Only change S_DAX on inode load"). This causes data written to the file to bypass encryption, also causing xfstests failures such as generic/548 (when "-o dax=always" is used). Fix this by simplifying the flow by making __ext4_new_inode() set EXT4_INODE_ENCRYPT earlier. This makes it take effect in ext4_set_inode_flags(inode, init=true), making S_DAX never be set. Similarly, make EXT4_STATE_MAY_INLINE_DATA never be set in the first place on new encrypted inodes. Then it doesn't need to be cleared. As a result of these simplifications, ext4_set_context() no longer needs to change inode flags or state when 'handle != NULL'. Remove that too.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-80806 since 08/26/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be launched remotely. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available. The price for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 09/04/2026).

Upgrading to version 5.10.269, 5.15.220, 6.1.187, 6.6.156, 6.12.108, 6.18.47, 7.1.11, 7.2.1 or 7.3-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch add98959b220935b243170214c787bc03044a44d/f53b325068bca0b238c3e0d2eb7de9b1f2268cab/5959cad3cfa852ec07bbdaf9c17f4838a94a8e6c/a13f61ba9b2a7a4ff1f140949ccfad23c5313757/ed1cd834da65db127f1c30ff67e78f14825a06c1/458776af0061afec1014cb3cd0061e282e482e83/3392391b363a63ebb531d45318a729b1c998565b/e27bae352158c007143d5bb50f3af33a177c0a37/da32af420d6d466e247c43ac0b829edeac7ae0ad is able to eliminate this problem.

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Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.10.268
• 5.15.219
• 6.1.186
• 6.6.155
• 6.12.107
• 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
• 6.18.23
• 6.18.24
• 6.18.25
• 6.18.26
• 6.18.27
• 6.18.28
• 6.18.29
• 6.18.30
• 6.18.31
• 6.18.32
• 6.18.33
• 6.18.34
• 6.18.35
• 6.18.36
• 6.18.37
• 6.18.38
• 6.18.39
• 6.18.40
• 6.18.41
• 6.18.42
• 6.18.43
• 6.18.44
• 6.18.45
• 6.18.46
• 7.0
• 7.1
• 7.1.0
• 7.1.1
• 7.1.2
• 7.1.3
• 7.1.4
• 7.1.5
• 7.1.6
• 7.1.7
• 7.1.8
• 7.1.9
• 7.1.10
• 7.2.0

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: 5.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.3

VulDB Base Score: 5.5
VulDB Temp Score: 5.3
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: State issue
CWE: CWE-371
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.10.269/5.15.220/6.1.187/6.6.156/6.12.108/6.18.47/7.1.11/7.2.1/7.3-rc1
Patch: add98959b220935b243170214c787bc03044a44d/f53b325068bca0b238c3e0d2eb7de9b1f2268cab/5959cad3cfa852ec07bbdaf9c17f4838a94a8e6c/a13f61ba9b2a7a4ff1f140949ccfad23c5313757/ed1cd834da65db127f1c30ff67e78f14825a06c1/458776af0061afec1014cb3cd0061e282e482e83/3392391b363a63ebb531d45318a729b1c998565b/e27bae352158c007143d5bb50f3af33a177c0a37/da32af420d6d466e247c43ac0b829edeac7ae0ad

Timelineinfo

08/26/2026 CVE reserved
09/04/2026 +9 days Advisory disclosed
09/04/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
09/04/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-80806 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-80806
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-398941

Entryinfo

Created: 09/04/2026 18:26
Changes: 09/04/2026 18:26 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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