CVE-2026-97543
Received Received - Intake

XFS Memory Leak in Directory Path Creation

Publication date: 2026-09-25

Last updated on: 2026-09-25

Assigner: kernel.org

Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xfs: destroy seen inode bitmap when we fail to add a dirpath LOLLM observes a memory leak in xchk_dirtree_create_path if we create the directory path object but appending the name to the path fails. When this happens, we don't tear down the (empty) seen inode bitmap. This is a pretty trivial error, but let's not leave logic bombs. Do the same for a similar bug in xrep_dirtree_create_adoption_path.

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Meta Information

Published
2026-09-25
Last Modified
2026-09-25
Generated
2026-09-25
AI Q&A
2026-09-25
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
CVE-2026-97543
EUVD
EUVD-2026-86851

Affected Vendors & Products

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

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Exploitability

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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-UNKNOWN

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Executive Summary

This vulnerability is a memory leak in the Linux kernel's XFS file system. It occurs when creating a directory path fails after the system allocates memory for tracking inodes. The memory allocated for the 'seen inode bitmap' is not properly released, leaving a small amount of memory unused.

Detection Guidance

This vulnerability is specific to the Linux kernel's XFS filesystem and involves memory leaks during directory path creation failures. Detection requires checking kernel logs for memory allocation errors or leaks related to XFS operations. Use commands like dmesg | grep -i xfs or journalctl -k | grep -i xfs to inspect kernel logs for XFS-related errors.

Impact Analysis

The impact is likely minimal for most users. It only causes a minor memory leak during specific directory creation failures. This could slightly reduce available memory over time if the error occurs repeatedly, but it does not lead to crashes or data corruption.

Mitigation Strategies

Apply the latest Linux kernel patches or updates that address this specific issue. Monitor system memory usage for leaks and restart affected services if memory exhaustion is detected. Ensure XFS filesystem operations are functioning correctly after updates.

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