CVE-2026-89601
Received Received - Intake

ext2 Inode Update Loss in Linux Kernel

Publication date: 2026-09-11

Last updated on: 2026-09-11

Assigner: kernel.org

Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext2: Fix lost inode updates for IS_SYNC inodes ext2_setsize() and ext2_xattr_set2() had a construct like: if (IS_SYNC(inode)) { sync_inode_metadata(inode, 1); } else { mark_inode_dirty(inode); } which leads to lost inode updates for IS_SYNC inodes because sync_inode_metadata() does anything only if the inode is already dirty and hence inode updates may be simply lost. Fix the problem by unconditionally marking the inode dirty and *then* call sync_inode_metadata().

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Meta Information

Published
2026-09-11
Last Modified
2026-09-11
Generated
2026-09-12
AI Q&A
2026-09-12
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
CVE-2026-89601
EUVD
EUVD-2026-76513

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 1 associated CPE
Vendor Product Version / Range
linux linux_kernel *

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Exploitability

CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-UNKNOWN

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Executive Summary

This vulnerability in the Linux kernel involves lost inode updates for IS_SYNC inodes. The issue occurs in ext2_setsize() and ext2_xattr_set2() functions where inode updates may be lost because sync_inode_metadata() only acts if the inode is already dirty. The fix ensures the inode is marked dirty first before calling sync_inode_metadata().

Detection Guidance

This vulnerability affects the ext2 filesystem in the Linux kernel and may lead to lost inode updates. Detection requires checking kernel versions and filesystem operations. Use uname -a to verify kernel version and grep for ext2-related logs in dmesg or syslog for errors.

Impact Analysis

This vulnerability could lead to data corruption or inconsistencies in ext2 filesystems. If inode updates are lost, files or directories might not reflect recent changes, causing potential data loss or system instability.

Mitigation Strategies

Apply the latest kernel patches from your distribution to fix the ext2 inode update issue. Reboot the system after patching to ensure the updated kernel is active. Monitor filesystem operations for errors post-update.

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