Linux Kernel up to 6.18.51/7.2.5 btrfs btrfs_defrag_file deadlock

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5.3$0-$5k0.00-

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.51/7.2.5. It has been rated as critical. This affects the function btrfs_defrag_file of the component btrfs. This manipulation causes deadlock. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2026-90265. The attack is restricted to local execution. No exploit exists. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.51/7.2.5 and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function btrfs_defrag_file of the component btrfs. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a deadlock vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-833. The product contains multiple threads or executable segments that are waiting for each other to release a necessary lock, resulting in deadlock. As an impact it is known to affect availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: defrag: fix deadlock between defrag and delalloc space reservation While running fsstress with autodefrag and flushoncommit, hit a deadlock due to the fact that defrag reserves delalloc space while it's holding dirty and locked folios, besides the extent range lock. The stack traces are the following: [958.624] task:kworker/u50:3 state:D stack:0 pid:20365 tgid:20365 ppid:2 task_flags:0x4208060 flags:0x00080000 [958.626] Workqueue: events_unbound btrfs_async_reclaim_metadata_space [btrfs] [958.627] Call Trace: [958.628] <TASK> [958.628] __schedule+0x4be/0x10f0 [958.629] ? preempt_count_add+0x69/0xa0 [958.630] schedule+0x26/0xd0 [958.631] wait_current_trans+0x102/0x160 [btrfs] [958.632] ? __pfx_autoremove_wake_function+0x10/0x10 [958.633] start_transaction+0x374/0x900 [btrfs] [958.634] btrfs_commit_current_transaction+0x1d/0x70 [btrfs] [958.635] flush_space+0xca/0x5e0 [btrfs] [958.636] ? _raw_spin_unlock+0x15/0x30 [958.637] ? btrfs_reduce_alloc_profile+0x8c/0x190 [btrfs] [958.639] ? _raw_spin_unlock+0x15/0x30 [958.640] ? calc_available_free_space.isra.0+0x6f/0x110 [btrfs] [958.641] do_async_reclaim_metadata_space+0x84/0x190 [btrfs] [958.642] btrfs_async_reclaim_metadata_space+0x64/0x80 [btrfs] [958.644] process_one_work+0x19d/0x3a0 [958.644] worker_thread+0x1c4/0x330 [958.645] ? __pfx_worker_thread+0x10/0x10 [958.646] kthread+0xfc/0x130 [958.647] ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 [958.648] ret_from_fork+0x1f7/0x2c0 [958.648] ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 [958.649] ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 [958.650] </TASK> [958.651] task:kworker/u49:7 state:D stack:0 pid:52990 tgid:52990 ppid:2 task_flags:0x4208060 flags:0x00080000 [958.653] Workqueue: writeback wb_workfn (flush-btrfs-334) [958.655] Call Trace: [958.655] <TASK> [958.656] __schedule+0x4be/0x10f0 [958.657] ? __blk_flush_plug+0xe9/0x140 [958.658] schedule+0x26/0xd0 [958.658] io_schedule+0x42/0x70 [958.659] folio_wait_bit_common+0x12b/0x330 [958.660] ? folio_wait_bit_common+0x100/0x330 [958.662] ? __pfx_wake_page_function+0x10/0x10 [958.663] extent_write_cache_pages+0x599/0x830 [btrfs] [958.664] ? acpi_fwnode_get_reference_args+0x1fa/0x270 [958.665] btrfs_writepages+0x77/0x130 [btrfs] [958.666] ? __pfx_end_bbio_data_write+0x10/0x10 [btrfs] [958.667] do_writepages+0xc6/0x160 [958.668] __writeback_single_inode+0x42/0x310 [958.669] writeback_sb_inodes+0x231/0x570 [958.670] wb_writeback+0x8a/0x340 [958.671] wb_workfn+0xbf/0x450 [958.672] ? finish_task_switch.isra.0+0xc1/0x350 [958.673] process_one_work+0x19d/0x3a0 [958.673] worker_thread+0x1c4/0x330 [958.674] ? __pfx_worker_thread+0x10/0x10 [958.675] kthread+0xfc/0x130 [958.676] ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 [958.676] ret_from_fork+0x1f7/0x2c0 [958.677] ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 [958.678] ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 [958.679] </TASK> [958.679] task:btrfs-cleaner state:D stack:0 pid:296750 tgid:296750 ppid:2 task_flags:0x208040 flags:0x00080000 [958.681] Call Trace: [958.682] <TASK> [958.682] __schedule+0x4be/0x10f0 [958.683] schedule+0x26/0xd0 [958.684] handle_reserve_ticket+0x1b9/0x2c0 [btrfs] [958.685] ? __pfx_autoremove_wake_function+0x10/0x10 [958.686] reserve_bytes+0x283/0x4c0 [btrfs] [958.687] btrfs_reserve_metadata_bytes+0x18/0xb0 [btrfs] [958.688] btrfs_delalloc_reserve_metadata+0x121/0x320 [btrfs] [958.690] btrfs_delalloc_reserve_space+0x46/0xb0 [btrfs] [958.691] btrfs_defrag_file+0x903/0x1110 [btrfs] [958.692] btrfs_run_defrag_inodes+0x334/0x430 [btrfs] [958.694] cleaner_kthread+0x97/0x1c0 [btrfs] [958.694] ? __pfx_cleaner_kthread+0x10/0x10 [btrfs] [958.696] kthread+0xfc/0x130 [958.696] ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 [958.697] ret_ ---truncated---

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-90265 since 09/11/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. An attack has to be approached locally. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

Upgrading to version 6.18.52, 7.2.6 or 7.3-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch a9701dd06e82c345fe70debdf8835b7eb5000c59/ac916391e1c70801649f7d6f85014f687983bc33/ba02eab28041f9a4bbe9fc90c7249644fef6de0f is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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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

AVACAuCIA
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Deadlock
CWE: CWE-833 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

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

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.18.52/7.2.6/7.3-rc1
Patch: a9701dd06e82c345fe70debdf8835b7eb5000c59/ac916391e1c70801649f7d6f85014f687983bc33/ba02eab28041f9a4bbe9fc90c7249644fef6de0f

Timelineinfo

09/11/2026 CVE reserved
09/17/2026 +6 days Advisory disclosed
09/17/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
09/17/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-90265 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-90265
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-406777

Entryinfo

Created: 09/17/2026 21:06
Changes: 09/17/2026 21:06 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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