CVE-2025-68809

Linux Kernel 5.15-6.6.119, 6.7-6.12.63, 6.13-6.18.2 - Race Condition in ksmbd Inode Flag Handling

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ksmbd: vfs: fix race on m_flags in vfs_cache ksmbd maintains delete-on-close and pending-delete state in ksmbd_inode->m_flags. In vfs_cache.c this field is accessed under inconsistent locking: some paths read and modify m_flags under ci->m_lock while others do so without taking the lock at all. Examples: - ksmbd_query_inode_status() and __ksmbd_inode_close() use ci->m_lock when checking or updating m_flags. - ksmbd_inode_pending_delete(), ksmbd_set_inode_pending_delete(), ksmbd_clear_inode_pending_delete() and ksmbd_fd_set_delete_on_close() used to read and modify m_flags without ci->m_lock. This creates a potential data race on m_flags when multiple threads open, close and delete the same file concurrently. In the worst case delete-on-close and pending-delete bits can be lost or observed in an inconsistent state, leading to confusing delete semantics (files that stay on disk after delete-on-close, or files that disappear while still in use). Fix it by: - Making ksmbd_query_inode_status() look at m_flags under ci->m_lock after dropping inode_hash_lock. - Adding ci->m_lock protection to all helpers that read or modify m_flags (ksmbd_inode_pending_delete(), ksmbd_set_inode_pending_delete(), ksmbd_clear_inode_pending_delete(), ksmbd_fd_set_delete_on_close()). - Keeping the existing ci->m_lock protection in __ksmbd_inode_close(), and moving the actual unlink/xattr removal outside the lock. This unifies the locking around m_flags and removes the data race while preserving the existing delete-on-close behaviour.

Scores

EPSS 0.0003
EPSS Percentile 10.3%

Details

Status published
Products (13)
linux/Kernel 5.15.0 - 6.6.120linux
linux/Kernel 6.13.0 - 6.18.3linux
linux/Kernel 6.7.0 - 6.12.64linux
Linux/Linux < 5.15
Linux/Linux 5.15
Linux/Linux 6.12.64 - 6.12.*
Linux/Linux 6.18.3 - 6.18.*
Linux/Linux 6.19
Linux/Linux 6.6.120 - 6.6.*
Linux/Linux f44158485826c076335d6860d35872271a83791d - 5adad9727a815c26013b0d41cfee92ffa7d4037c
... and 3 more
Published Jan 13, 2026
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026