Linux Kernel up to 7.2.5 ocfs2 ocfs2_validate_xattr_block use after free

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as very critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2.5. The impacted element is the function ocfs2_validate_xattr_block of the component ocfs2. Executing a manipulation can lead to use after free. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-90320. The attack may be launched remotely. There is no exploit available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as very critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2.5. This vulnerability affects the function ocfs2_validate_xattr_block of the component ocfs2. 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. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ocfs2: validate external xattr entries when reading metadata ocfs2_validate_xattr_block() checks the xattr block header before the block reaches higher-level xattr users, but it does not verify that a non-indexed block's xh_count and entry offsets fit inside the block. Indexed buckets likewise reach list/get consumers after ECC without an entry-bounds check. Use the flat xattr entry validator for non-indexed external xattr blocks, and use a bucket-specific validator for indexed buckets at metadata read time. The bucket validator keeps the entry array bounded by the first bucket block while checking name/value offsets against the bucket block they target. Reject corrupted external xattr metadata before listxattr() or getxattr() can walk out-of-range entry arrays or name/value offsets. Validation reproduced this kernel report: BUG: KASAN: use-after-free in ocfs2_xattr_list_entries+0xd7/0x190 Read of size 1 at addr ffff88810a654007 by task ocfs2_xattr_lis/630 Call Trace: dump_stack_lvl+0x66/0xa0 print_report+0xce/0x630 kasan_report+0xe0/0x110 ocfs2_xattr_list_entries+0xd7/0x190 ocfs2_listxattr+0x3f6/0x610 listxattr+0x90/0xe0 path_listxattrat+0xed/0x220 do_syscall_64+0x115/0x6a0 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-90320 since 09/11/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $5k-$25k (estimation calculated on 09/17/2026).

Upgrading to version 7.2.6 or 7.3-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 9f4129b6905b7d638bbc9eb8013c3989cbe30b7e/2cf82b46d5e43be0dfbaac7fa1073cec2fc1f5e6 is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

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Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 7.2.0
• 7.2.1
• 7.2.2
• 7.2.3
• 7.2.4
• 7.2.5

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

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