Linux Kernel up to 6.18.50/7.2.4 f2fs redirty_blocks use after free

| CVSS Meta Temp Score | Current Exploit Price (≈) | CTI Interest Score |
|---|---|---|
| 9.5 | $5k-$25k | 0.00 |
Summary
A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.50/7.2.4. It has been classified as very critical. This affects the function redirty_blocks of the component f2fs. This manipulation causes use after free.
This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2026-89841. Remote exploitation of the attack is possible. No exploit is available.
Upgrading the affected component is recommended.
Details
A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.50/7.2.4. It has been declared as very critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function redirty_blocks of the component f2fs. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. 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: f2fs: only redirty pinned folios in redirty_blocks redirty_blocks() pins folios with read_cache_folio() and then walks the same range again with filemap_lock_folio() to redirty them and drop the references it took. Commit 5951fee46bef ("f2fs: Use a folio in redirty_blocks()") changed the second pass to a do/while loop. If read_cache_folio() fails before anything is pinned, page_idx does not advance but the cleanup loop still runs once. If readahead has already populated the failed folio in page cache, that extra iteration finds it and folio_put_refs(folio, 2) drops one reference too many. Later drop_caches or reclaim can then report "BUG: Bad page state". Only redirty the range that was pinned successfully.
It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-89841 since 09/11/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be launched remotely. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $5k-$25k at the moment (estimation calculated on 09/16/2026).
Upgrading to version 6.18.51, 7.2.5 or 7.3-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 445e4a1e6025ecd5312e9a95c1b234192c976ca1/89c65ec3c18903de763cf567c96ab3ef60e5f3b0/85171332742e741ccd6f401c69b6e0d698119e72 is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Product
Type
Vendor
Name
Version
- 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
- 6.18.47
- 6.18.48
- 6.18.49
- 6.18.50
- 7.2.0
- 7.2.1
- 7.2.2
- 7.2.3
- 7.2.4
License
Website
- Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/
CPE 2.3
CPE 2.2
CVSSv4
VulDB Vector: 🔒VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv3
VulDB Meta Base Score: 9.9VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.5
VulDB Base Score: 9.9
VulDB Temp Score: 9.5
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv2
| 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: 🔍
Exploiting
Class: Use after freeCWE: CWE-416 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒
Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes
Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒
| 0-Day | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
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| Today | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
Threat Intelligence
Interest: 🔍Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍
Countermeasures
Recommended: UpgradeStatus: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔒
Upgrade: Kernel 6.18.51/7.2.5/7.3-rc1
Patch: 445e4a1e6025ecd5312e9a95c1b234192c976ca1/89c65ec3c18903de763cf567c96ab3ef60e5f3b0/85171332742e741ccd6f401c69b6e0d698119e72
Timeline
09/11/2026 CVE reserved09/16/2026 Advisory disclosed
09/16/2026 VulDB entry created
09/16/2026 VulDB entry last update
Sources
Vendor: kernel.orgAdvisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed
CVE: CVE-2026-89841 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-89841
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-405655
Entry
Created: 09/16/2026 13:22Changes: 09/16/2026 13:22 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
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