CVE Intelligence
High

CVE-2026-46251 — btrfs: fix block_group_tree dirty_list corruption

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: fix block_group_tree dirty_list corruption When the incompat flag EXTENT_TREE_V2 is set, we unconditionally add the block group tree to the switch_commits list before calling switch_commit_roots, as we do for the tree root and the chunk root. However, the block group tree uses normal root dirty tracking and in any transaction that does an allocation and dirties a block group, the block group root will already be linked to a list by the dirty_list field and this use of list_add_tail() is invalid and corrupts the prev/next members of block_group_root->dirty_list. This is apparent on a subsequent list_del on the prev if we enable CONFIG_DEBUG_LIST: [32.1571] ------------[ cut here ]------------ [32.1572] list_del corruption. next->prev should beffff958890202538, but was ffff9588992bd538. (next=ffff958890201538) [32.1575] WARNING: lib/list_debug.c:65 at 0x0, CPU#3: sync/607 [32.1583] CPU: 3 UID: 0 PID: 607 Comm: sync Not tainted 6.18.0 #24PREEMPT(none) [32.1585] Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009), BIOS1.17.0-4.fc41 04/01/2014 [32.1587] RIP: 0010:__list_del_entry_valid_or_report+0x108/0x120 [32.1593] RSP: 0018:ffffaa288287fdd0 EFLAGS: 00010202 [32.1594] RAX: 0000000000000001 RBX: ffff95889326e800 RCX:ffff958890201538 [32.1596] RDX: ffff9588992bd538 RSI: ffff958890202538 RDI:ffffffff82a41e00 [32.1597] RBP: ffff958890202538 R08: ffffffff828fc1e8 R09:00000000ffffefff [32.1599] R10: ffffffff8288c200 R11: ffffffff828e4200 R12:ffff958890201538 [32.1601] R13: ffff95889326e958 R14: ffff958895c24000 R15:ffff958890202538 [32.1603] FS: 00007f0c28eb5740(0000) GS:ffff958af2bd2000(0000)knlGS:0000000000000000 [32.1605] CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 [32.1607] CR2: 00007f0c28e8a3cc CR3: 0000000109942005 CR4:0000000000370ef0 [32.1609] Call Trace: [32.1610] <TASK> [32.1611] switch_commit_roots+0x82/0x1d0 [btrfs] [32.1615] btrfs_commit_transaction+0x968/0x1550 [btrfs] [32.1618] ? btrfs_attach_transaction_barrier+0x23/0x60 [btrfs] [32.1621] __iterate_supers+0xe8/0x190 [32.1622] ? __pfx_sync_fs_one_sb+0x10/0x10 [32.1623] ksys_sync+0x63/0xb0 [32.1624] __do_sys_sync+0xe/0x20 [32.1625] do_syscall_64+0x73/0x450 [32.1626] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e [32.1627] RIP: 0033:0x7f0c28d05d2b [32.1632] RSP: 002b:00007ffc9d988048 EFLAGS: 00000246 ORIG_RAX:00000000000000a2 [32.1634] RAX: ffffffffffffffda RBX: 00007ffc9d988228 RCX:00007f0c28d05d2b [32.1636] RDX: 00007f0c28e02301 RSI: 00007ffc9d989b21 RDI:00007f0c28dba90d [32.1637] RBP: 0000000000000001 R08: 0000000000000001 R09:0000000000000000 [32.1639] R10: 0000000000000000 R11: 0000000000000246 R12:000055b96572cb80 [32.1641] R13: 000055b96572b19f R14: 00007f0c28dfa434 R15:000055b96572b034 [32.1643] </TASK> [32.1644] irq event stamp: 0 [32.1644] hardirqs last enabled at (0): [<0000000000000000>] 0x0 [32.1646] hardirqs last disabled at (0): [<ffffffff81298817>]copy_process+0xb37/0x2260 [32.1648] softirqs last enabled at (0): [<ffffffff81298817>]copy_process+0xb37/0x2260 [32.1650] softirqs last disabled at (0): [<0000000000000000>] 0x0 [32.1652] ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]--- Furthermore, this list corruption eventually (when we happen to add a new block group) results in getting the switch_commits and dirty_cowonly_roots lists mixed up and attempting to call update_root on the tree root which can't be found in the tree root, resulting in a transaction abort: [87.8269] BTRFS critical (device nvme1n1): unable to find root key (1 0 0) in tree 1 [87.8272] ------------[ cut here ]------------ [87.8274] BTRFS: Transaction aborted (error -117) [87.8275] WARNING: fs/btrfs/root-tree.c:153 at 0x0, CPU#4: sync/703 [87.8285] CPU: 4 UID: 0 PID: 703 Comm: sync Not tainted 6.18.0 #25 PREEMPT(none) [87.8287] Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009), BIOS 1.17.0-4.fc41 0 ---truncated---

Published Jun 3, 2026 · Updated Oct 13, 2026 · Sources: NIST National Vulnerability Database, CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP · CNA: Linux

Who exploits it and how urgent it is

A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.

No exploitation signal in the sources consulted so far.
How the score was calculated
  • EPSS 0.2% (30-day exploitation probability)+1
  • Technical severity (high)+6

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.

Exploitation
Not confirmed
Not in CISA KEV — an absence of record, not proof it is unexploited.
EPSS FIRST
0.2%
ahead of 9% of scored CVEs · Oct 14, 2026
Affects
Linux
Linux and 1 more
CVSS base
8.4
High · 2 source(s)

Remediation

Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.

  • Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
  • Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
  • Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
  • Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
  • Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
  • Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)

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.

  1. Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Linux Linux, Linux Linux Kernel).
  2. Apply the fixed version or the patch documented under Remediation.
  3. Search available logs for exploit probes, errors and authentication anomalies.

Affected scope

Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.

VendorProductVersionsStatusSource
Linux Linux ≥ 14033b08a02916e85ffc5397e4ac15337359f3ae and < 6e10283b5519d987d880d71bec90cdc7f2ec62b3≥ 14033b08a02916e85ffc5397e4ac15337359f3ae and < e3d1fd084319f8f0830b22f014c7af6a96b4497b≥ 14033b08a02916e85ffc5397e4ac15337359f3ae and < 4eb830847d84276f1c8ea46541cfeeedaba1fb63≥ 14033b08a02916e85ffc5397e4ac15337359f3ae and < 80e1fda9c084dcf54819a12bc7682ec0afd2d8f4≥ 14033b08a02916e85ffc5397e4ac15337359f3ae and < 201091da34c4f113af6b4a7407091c39bf29d4ca≥ 14033b08a02916e85ffc5397e4ac15337359f3ae and < 3a1f4264daed4b419c325a7fe35e756cada3cf82version dabf41db56f378a360ff0219c467f8dfecda7dd6≥ 6.0.19 and < 6.1
and 1 more version 6.1
Vulnerable CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP
Linux Linux Kernel ≥ 6.0.19 and < 6.1.165≥ 6.2 and < 6.6.128≥ 6.7 and < 6.12.75≥ 6.13 and < 6.18.14≥ 6.19 and < 6.19.4 Vulnerable NIST National Vulnerability Database

Attack characteristics

The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.

Attack vector
Local
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Every base score collected

Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.

ScoreVersionSeverityExpl.ImpactScored by
8.4 CVSS 3.1 High 2.5 5.9 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 via NIST National Vulnerability Database
8.4 CVSS 3.1 High — — Linux via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H (score shown at the top: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67)

EPSS over time FIRST

Oct 13, 2026 → Oct 14, 2026 · 2 reading(s) · max 0.20%

Detection

Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.

  • Local/physical vector: focus on endpoint telemetry (EDR) from affected hosts.
endpoint telemetry (EDR)

Timeline

What happened to this CVE, newest first.

  • 2026
  • Affected products added · linux/linux
    Oct 13, 2026 · CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP
  • Record published
    Oct 13, 2026
  • Fix documented
    Oct 13, 2026 · NIST National Vulnerability Database
  • CVSS changed · 8.4
    Oct 13, 2026 · NIST National Vulnerability Database
  • Source status changed · → Analyzed
    Oct 13, 2026 · NIST National Vulnerability Database
  • Record created in this database
    Oct 13, 2026 · NIST National Vulnerability Database
  • CVE published
    Jun 3, 2026 · Linux

Source activity

Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.

  • 1× Official description updated · Oct 13, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026

References

6 on the record

Elsewhere on this site

Linux
every CVE for this vendor

Related CVEs (same products)

  • CVE-2026-99999 ipv4: validate checksum_start before completing checksum 9h
  • CVE-2026-98432 ipv4: free inet_opt and ireq_opt after an RCU grace period 9h
  • CVE-2026-98431 RDMA/uverbs: Fix mmap_lock/disassociation_lock circular dependency 1d
  • CVE-2026-98424 wifi: cfg80211: undo netns switch if renaming the wiphy fails 1d
  • CVE-2026-98425 wifi: mac80211: don't warn when an IBSS has no channel to scan 1d
  • CVE-2026-98426 wifi: mwifiex: fix IRQ leak using wrong index in MSI-X error path 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 CISA SSVC assessment.
  • 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-2026-46251 is "btrfs: fix block_group_tree dirty_list corruption", rated High. It affects Linux (Linux); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. CVSS 8.4 describes technical severity. EPSS 0.20% 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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