CVE-2026-80537
Received Received - Intake

Buffer Overflow in Linux Kernel XFS Filesystem

Vulnerability report for CVE-2026-80537, including description, CVSS score, EPSS score, affected products, exploitability, helpful resources, and attack-flow context.

Publication date: 2026-08-26

Last updated on: 2026-08-26

Assigner: kernel.org

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xfs: fix off-by-one in rtrefcount btree root level validation xfs_rtrefcountbt_compute_maxlevels() sets mp->m_rtrefc_maxlevels = min(d_maxlevels, r_maxlevels) + 1; where the trailing "+ 1" already accounts for the inode-root level, so the deepest valid on-disk root level is m_rtrefc_maxlevels - 1 and a cursor must satisfy bc_nlevels <= bc_maxlevels (= m_rtrefc_maxlevels). The two on-disk validation paths, xfs_rtrefcountbt_verify() and xfs_iformat_rtrefcount(), check the root level with ">" instead of ">=", so a crafted rtreflink (metadir + realtime + reflink) image whose /rtgroups/N.refcount inode has bb_level == m_rtrefc_maxlevels is accepted on mount. xfs_rtrefcountbt_init_cursor() then sets bc_nlevels = bb_level + 1, exceeding bc_maxlevels by one. Since the xfs_rtrefcountbt_cur slab object is sized for exactly bc_maxlevels entries, the first btree op on such a cursor indexes bc_levels[m_rtrefc_maxlevels] past the end of the object. This is reached by the first rtrefcount cursor built after mount, via log/CoW recovery (xfs_reflink_recover_cow() during xfs_mountfs()) or an FS_IOC_GETFSMAP over the realtime device. Reject a root level equal to m_rtrefc_maxlevels, matching the ">=" form already used by the sibling data-device refcount/rmap verifiers and the in-memory rtrmap verifier. BUG: KASAN: slab-out-of-bounds in xfs_btree_lookup (fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_btree.c:2101) Write of size 2 at addr ffff888018391658 by task exploit/144 xfs_btree_lookup (fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_btree.c:2101) xfs_btree_query_range (fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_btree.c:5308) xfs_refcount_recover_cow_leftovers (fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_refcount.c:2113) xfs_reflink_recover_cow (fs/xfs/xfs_reflink.c:1085) xlog_recover_finish (fs/xfs/xfs_log_recover.c:3551) xfs_mountfs (fs/xfs/xfs_mount.c:1158) xfs_fs_fill_super (fs/xfs/xfs_super.c:1940) get_tree_bdev_flags (fs/super.c:1634) vfs_get_tree (fs/super.c:1694) path_mount (fs/namespace.c:4161) __x64_sys_mount (fs/namespace.c:4367) entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe (arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:121) The buggy address belongs to the cache xfs_rtrefcountbt_cur of size 216 The buggy address is located 8 bytes to the right of allocated 216-byte region [ffff888018391578, ffff888018391650) Kernel panic - not syncing: Fatal exception

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Meta Information

Published
2026-08-26
Last Modified
2026-08-26
Generated
2026-08-26
AI Q&A
2026-08-26
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
EUVD

Affected Vendors & Products

Currently, no data is known.

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-UNKNOWN

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Executive Summary

This is a Linux kernel vulnerability in the XFS filesystem where an off-by-one error in the realtime reference count btree root level validation allows a crafted image to trigger a slab-out-of-bounds write. The issue occurs because the validation checks use '>' instead of '>=' when comparing root levels, enabling an attacker to create a filesystem image that causes a buffer overflow during mount or recovery operations.

Detection Guidance

This vulnerability is specific to the Linux kernel's XFS filesystem and requires direct inspection of the filesystem structure. Detection involves checking the XFS filesystem for corrupted rtrefcount btree structures. Use xfs_db or xfs_repair tools to inspect the filesystem for inconsistencies in the realtime reflink reference count btree.

Impact Analysis

This vulnerability can lead to kernel memory corruption, crashes, or arbitrary code execution. An attacker with filesystem access could exploit it to cause a denial of service (kernel panic) or potentially gain elevated privileges by triggering a slab-out-of-bounds write during mount, recovery, or filesystem operations.

Mitigation Strategies

Apply the latest kernel patches that fix this issue. Avoid mounting XFS filesystems with realtime devices and reflink enabled until patched. If already mounted, unmount and remount after patching. Monitor for filesystem corruption and consider disabling reflink on realtime devices as a temporary workaround.

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