CVE-2024-40972

ext4: do not create EA inode under buffer lock

MEDIUM

5.5

CVSS Score

Published: July 12, 2024 at 12:32 PM UTC

Updated: June 17, 2026 at 07:46 AM UTC

1 product affected across 1 vendorLinux Kernel

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Severity

MEDIUM5.5

Exploit prediction

EPSS 0.2%

SSVC

No known exploit

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: do not create EA inode under buffer lock ext4_xattr_set_entry() creates new EA inodes while holding buffer lock on the external xattr block. This is problematic as it nests all the allocation locking (which acquires locks on other buffers) under the buffer lock. This can even deadlock when the filesystem is corrupted and e.g. quota file is setup to contain xattr block as data block. Move the allocation of EA inode out of ext4_xattr_set_entry() into the callers.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

Linux Kernel · Linux

95%

v < 6.1.1074.13 ≤ v < 6.1.1074.13 ≤ v < 6.104.13 ≤ v < 6.6.474.13 ≤ v < 6.9.76.2 ≤ v < 6.6.476.7 ≤ v < 6.9.74.13e50e5129f384ae282adebfb561189cdb19b81cee

Vendor states this is fixed in 0a46ef234756dca04623b7591e8ebb3440622f0b (fixed)

Vendor states this is fixed in 111103907234bffd0a34fba070ad9367de058752 (fixed)

Vendor states this is fixed in 737fb7853acd5bc8984f6f42e4bfba3334be8ae1 (fixed)

Vendor states this is fixed in 752e7fb549d90c33b4d4186f11cfd25a556d1dd (fixed)

Vendor states this is fixed in 4.13 (unaffected)

Vendor states this is fixed in 6.1.107 (unaffected)

Vendor states this is fixed in 6.10 (unaffected)

Vendor states this is fixed in 6.6.47 (unaffected)

Vendor states this is fixed in 6.9.7 (unaffected)