Linux Kernel up to 7.2.5 ext4 ext4_init_orphan_info memory leak

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.2$0-$5k1.17

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Linux Kernel up to 7.2.5. This vulnerability affects the function ext4_init_orphan_info of the component ext4. The manipulation leads to memory leak. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2026-92494. The attack may be initiated remotely. There is no available exploit. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2.5 and classified as critical. This issue affects the function ext4_init_orphan_info of the component ext4. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory leak vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-401. The product does not sufficiently track and release allocated memory after it has been used, which slowly consumes remaining memory. Impacted is availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: fix buffer_head leak in ext4_init_orphan_info ext4_init_orphan_info() reads orphan file blocks with ext4_bread() and stores the returned buffer_head in oi->of_binfo[i].ob_bh. If ext4_bread() succeeds but the orphan block magic or checksum validation fails, the function jumps to out_free. However, the old out_free loop starts releasing buffers from i - 1, so the current buffer_head at index i is skipped. This leaks the buffer_head reference obtained by ext4_bread() on the bad magic and bad checksum error paths. Fix this by tracking the number of successfully read buffer_heads and releasing exactly those buffer_heads on the error path.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-92494 since 09/16/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be initiated remotely. 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 09/17/2026). The attack technique deployed by this issue is T1499 according to MITRE ATT&CK.

Upgrading to version 5.15.221, 6.1.188, 6.6.157, 6.12.110, 6.18.52, 7.2.6 or 7.3-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch a9a6ec1298f9bc134b2c5db27d25bb10603b7113/35fc83c65faf7949f5701bb34b20f822560a7718/74637f7fef030e5fb2e835b7dfeb05efdc48e0fe/6ec53ccab0d691b3c73e03d930343ca45987e88d/1399f102d8a1855c1a38506057306ec79d0787d9/e1e342d9a561c016b8531ec1f4dcefaad9d64954/05704335803b69c1bfa8637b7ada942bf2ee8a41 is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.2

VulDB Base Score: 6.5
VulDB Temp Score: 6.2
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory leak
CWE: CWE-401 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

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 5.15.221/6.1.188/6.6.157/6.12.110/6.18.52/7.2.6/7.3-rc1
Patch: a9a6ec1298f9bc134b2c5db27d25bb10603b7113/35fc83c65faf7949f5701bb34b20f822560a7718/74637f7fef030e5fb2e835b7dfeb05efdc48e0fe/6ec53ccab0d691b3c73e03d930343ca45987e88d/1399f102d8a1855c1a38506057306ec79d0787d9/e1e342d9a561c016b8531ec1f4dcefaad9d64954/05704335803b69c1bfa8637b7ada942bf2ee8a41

Timelineinfo

09/16/2026 CVE reserved
09/17/2026 +1 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-2026-92494 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-92494
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-407003

Entryinfo

Created: 09/17/2026 22:31
Changes: 09/17/2026 22:31 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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