CVE-2025-68264 — ext4: refresh inline data size before write operations
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: refresh inline data size before write operations The cached ei->i_inline_size can become stale between the initial size check and when ext4_update_inline_data()/ext4_create_inline_data() use it. Although ext4_get_max_inline_size() reads the correct value at the time of the check, concurrent xattr operations can modify i_inline_size before ext4_write_lock_xattr() is acquired. This causes ext4_update_inline_data() and ext4_create_inline_data() to work with stale capacity values, leading to a BUG_ON() crash in ext4_write_inline_data(): kernel BUG at fs/ext4/inline.c:1331! BUG_ON(pos + len > EXT4_I(inode)->i_inline_size); The race window: 1. ext4_get_max_inline_size() reads i_inline_size = 60 (correct) 2. Size check passes for 50-byte write 3. [Another thread adds xattr, i_inline_size changes to 40] 4. ext4_write_lock_xattr() acquires lock 5. ext4_update_inline_data() uses stale i_inline_size = 60 6. Attempts to write 50 bytes but only 40 bytes actually available 7. BUG_ON() triggers Fix this by recalculating i_inline_size via ext4_find_inline_data_nolock() immediately after acquiring xattr_sem. This ensures ext4_update_inline_data() and ext4_create_inline_data() work with current values that are protected from concurrent modifications. This is similar to commit a54c4613dac1 ("ext4: fix race writing to an inline_data file while its xattrs are changing") which fixed i_inline_off staleness. This patch addresses the related i_inline_size staleness issue.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- EPSS 0.2% (30-day exploitation probability)+2
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
CISA SSVC assessment CISA
Three decision points CISA publishes for the CVEs it assesses (SSVC 2.0.3). A stakeholder decision, not a severity score.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
No fix documented by the sources we poll. That does not mean none exists: check the vendor advisory.
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Linux Linux).
- No fix documented in the sources: reduce exposure and monitor the vendor advisory.
- Search available logs for exploit probes, errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux |
≥ 67cf5b09a46f72e048501b84996f2f77bc42e947 and < 54ab81ae5f218452e64470cd8a8139bb5880fe2b≥ 67cf5b09a46f72e048501b84996f2f77bc42e947 and < 43bf001f0fe4e59bba47c897505222f959f4a1cc≥ 67cf5b09a46f72e048501b84996f2f77bc42e947 and < 89c2c41f0974e530b2d032c3695095aa0559adb1≥ 67cf5b09a46f72e048501b84996f2f77bc42e947 and < 1687a055a555347b002f406676a1aaae4668f242≥ 67cf5b09a46f72e048501b84996f2f77bc42e947 and < 210ac60a86a3ad2c76ae60e0dc71c34af6e7ea0b≥ 67cf5b09a46f72e048501b84996f2f77bc42e947 and < ca43ea29b4c4d2764aec8a26cffcfb677a871e6e≥ 67cf5b09a46f72e048501b84996f2f77bc42e947 and < 58df743faf21ceb1880f930aa5dd428e2a5e415d≥ 67cf5b09a46f72e048501b84996f2f77bc42e947 and < 892e1cf17555735e9d021ab036c36bc7b58b0e3b and 1 moreversion 3.8 |
Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
EPSS over time FIRST
Oct 13, 2026 → Oct 14, 2026 · 2 reading(s) · max 0.22%
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Not enough vector or weakness data: use the affected application’s logs as a starting point.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Record published
- Affected products added · linux/linux
- SSVC assessment updated
- Source status changed · → Deferred
- Record created in this database
- 2025
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 2× References added · Oct 14, 2026 – Oct 14, 2026
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 13, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026
References
12 on the record
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/892e1cf17555735e9d021ab036c36bc7b58b0e3b
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1687a055a555347b002f406676a1aaae4668f242
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/54ab81ae5f218452e64470cd8a8139bb5880fe2b
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-457936.html
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/89c2c41f0974e530b2d032c3695095aa0559adb1
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-019113.html
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ca43ea29b4c4d2764aec8a26cffcfb677a871e6e
- github.com/advisories/GHSA-wp53-jh6w-3pf7
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-68264
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/58df743faf21ceb1880f930aa5dd428e2a5e415d
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/43bf001f0fe4e59bba47c897505222f959f4a1cc
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/210ac60a86a3ad2c76ae60e0dc71c34af6e7ea0b
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Critical CVE-2026-99999 ipv4: validate checksum_start before completing checksum 11h
- Unknown CVE-2026-98432 ipv4: free inet_opt and ireq_opt after an RCU grace period 11h
- Unknown CVE-2026-98424 wifi: cfg80211: undo netns switch if renaming the wiphy fails 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98425 wifi: mac80211: don't warn when an IBSS has no channel to scan 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98426 wifi: mwifiex: fix IRQ leak using wrong index in MSI-X error path 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98427 net/sched: codel: bound the dropping loop per dequeue call 1d
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No CVSS score published by NVD, the CNA, CISA or GitHub so far.
- No fixed version, patch or mitigation documented.
- No CWE classification.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2025-68264 is "ext4: refresh inline data size before write operations", rated Unknown. It affects Linux (Linux); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. EPSS 0.22% estimates the probability of exploitation in 30 days; neither replaces your asset context. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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