CVE-2023-53348
Unknown Unknown - Not Provided
BaseFortify

Publication date: 2025-09-17

Last updated on: 2025-12-11

Assigner: kernel.org

Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: fix deadlock when aborting transaction during relocation with scrub Before relocating a block group we pause scrub, then do the relocation and then unpause scrub. The relocation process requires starting and committing a transaction, and if we have a failure in the critical section of the transaction commit path (transaction state >= TRANS_STATE_COMMIT_START), we will deadlock if there is a paused scrub. That results in stack traces like the following: [42.479] BTRFS info (device sdc): relocating block group 53876686848 flags metadata|raid6 [42.936] BTRFS warning (device sdc): Skipping commit of aborted transaction. [42.936] ------------[ cut here ]------------ [42.936] BTRFS: Transaction aborted (error -28) [42.936] WARNING: CPU: 11 PID: 346822 at fs/btrfs/transaction.c:1977 btrfs_commit_transaction+0xcc8/0xeb0 [btrfs] [42.936] Modules linked in: dm_flakey dm_mod loop btrfs (...) [42.936] CPU: 11 PID: 346822 Comm: btrfs Tainted: G W 6.3.0-rc2-btrfs-next-127+ #1 [42.936] Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS rel-1.14.0-0-g155821a1990b-prebuilt.qemu.org 04/01/2014 [42.936] RIP: 0010:btrfs_commit_transaction+0xcc8/0xeb0 [btrfs] [42.936] Code: ff ff 45 8b (...) [42.936] RSP: 0018:ffffb58649633b48 EFLAGS: 00010282 [42.936] RAX: 0000000000000000 RBX: ffff8be6ef4d5bd8 RCX: 0000000000000000 [42.936] RDX: 0000000000000002 RSI: ffffffffb35e7782 RDI: 00000000ffffffff [42.936] RBP: ffff8be6ef4d5c98 R08: 0000000000000000 R09: ffffb586496339e8 [42.936] R10: 0000000000000001 R11: 0000000000000001 R12: ffff8be6d38c7c00 [42.936] R13: 00000000ffffffe4 R14: ffff8be6c268c000 R15: ffff8be6ef4d5cf0 [42.936] FS: 00007f381a82b340(0000) GS:ffff8beddfcc0000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 [42.936] CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 [42.936] CR2: 00007f1e35fb7638 CR3: 0000000117680006 CR4: 0000000000370ee0 [42.936] DR0: 0000000000000000 DR1: 0000000000000000 DR2: 0000000000000000 [42.936] DR3: 0000000000000000 DR6: 00000000fffe0ff0 DR7: 0000000000000400 [42.936] Call Trace: [42.936] <TASK> [42.936] ? start_transaction+0xcb/0x610 [btrfs] [42.936] prepare_to_relocate+0x111/0x1a0 [btrfs] [42.936] relocate_block_group+0x57/0x5d0 [btrfs] [42.936] ? btrfs_wait_nocow_writers+0x25/0xb0 [btrfs] [42.936] btrfs_relocate_block_group+0x248/0x3c0 [btrfs] [42.936] ? __pfx_autoremove_wake_function+0x10/0x10 [42.936] btrfs_relocate_chunk+0x3b/0x150 [btrfs] [42.936] btrfs_balance+0x8ff/0x11d0 [btrfs] [42.936] ? __kmem_cache_alloc_node+0x14a/0x410 [42.936] btrfs_ioctl+0x2334/0x32c0 [btrfs] [42.937] ? mod_objcg_state+0xd2/0x360 [42.937] ? refill_obj_stock+0xb0/0x160 [42.937] ? seq_release+0x25/0x30 [42.937] ? __rseq_handle_notify_resume+0x3b5/0x4b0 [42.937] ? percpu_counter_add_batch+0x2e/0xa0 [42.937] ? __x64_sys_ioctl+0x88/0xc0 [42.937] __x64_sys_ioctl+0x88/0xc0 [42.937] do_syscall_64+0x38/0x90 [42.937] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x72/0xdc [42.937] RIP: 0033:0x7f381a6ffe9b [42.937] Code: 00 48 89 44 24 (...) [42.937] RSP: 002b:00007ffd45ecf060 EFLAGS: 00000246 ORIG_RAX: 0000000000000010 [42.937] RAX: ffffffffffffffda RBX: 0000000000000001 RCX: 00007f381a6ffe9b [42.937] RDX: 00007ffd45ecf150 RSI: 00000000c4009420 RDI: 0000000000000003 [42.937] RBP: 0000000000000003 R08: 0000000000000013 R09: 0000000000000000 [42.937] R10: 00007f381a60c878 R11: 0000000000000246 R12: 00007ffd45ed0423 [42.937] R13: 00007ffd45ecf150 R14: 0000000000000000 R15: 00007ffd45ecf148 [42.937] </TASK> [42.937] ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]--- [42.937] BTRFS: error (device sdc: state A) in cleanup_transaction:1977: errno=-28 No space left [59.196] INFO: task btrfs:346772 blocked for more than 120 seconds. [59.196] Tainted: G W 6.3.0-rc2-btrfs-next-127+ #1 [59.196] "echo 0 > /proc/sys/kernel/hung_ ---truncated---
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Meta Information
Published
2025-09-17
Last Modified
2025-12-11
Generated
2026-05-27
AI Q&A
2025-09-17
EPSS Evaluated
2026-05-25
NVD
CVE-2023-53348
Affected Vendors & Products
Showing 6 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
linux linux_kernel From 4.3 (inc) to 6.1.23 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 6.2 (inc) to 6.2.10 (exc)
linux linux_kernel 6.3
linux linux_kernel 6.3
linux linux_kernel 6.3
linux linux_kernel 6.3
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-667 The product does not properly acquire or release a lock on a resource, leading to unexpected resource state changes and behaviors.
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?

This vulnerability is a deadlock issue in the Linux kernel's Btrfs filesystem. It occurs when aborting a transaction during the relocation of a block group while a scrub operation is paused. The relocation process involves starting and committing a transaction. If a failure happens in the critical section of the transaction commit path while the scrub is paused, it causes a deadlock, leading to system hangs and error messages related to aborted transactions.


How can this vulnerability impact me? :

This vulnerability can cause the system to deadlock during Btrfs block group relocation when a scrub is paused, resulting in system hangs or freezes. This can disrupt normal filesystem operations, potentially causing downtime or data access issues until the deadlock is resolved or the system is rebooted.


How can this vulnerability be detected on my network or system? Can you suggest some commands?

This vulnerability can be detected by monitoring system logs for specific BTRFS error messages and stack traces indicating a deadlock during transaction commit when scrub is paused. Look for log entries similar to: 'BTRFS warning (device sdc): Skipping commit of aborted transaction.', 'BTRFS: Transaction aborted (error -28)', and messages about tasks blocked for more than 120 seconds related to btrfs. You can check the kernel log using commands like 'dmesg | grep -i btrfs' or 'journalctl -k | grep -i btrfs' to find these indications.


What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?

Immediate mitigation involves updating the Linux kernel to a version where this BTRFS deadlock issue during transaction abort in relocation with scrub is fixed. Until then, avoid operations that relocate block groups while scrub is paused, or monitor and manage scrub and relocation processes carefully to prevent deadlocks.


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