CVE-2025-68261

Kernel crash via unlocked inline-data layout transition

Published Dec 16, 2025 · Updated Dec 16, 2025

Race condition in Linux ext4 allows local users to crash the kernel by racing inline-data destruction against block mapping operations. ext4_destroy_inline_data_nolock changes inode layout flags without holding i_data_sem, so ext4_map_blocks can select the indirect mapper while the inode already carries the extents flag. Concurrent filesystem operations on an ext4 inode with inline data are required, and successful triggering interrupts the host through a kernel BUG assertion.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.54%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Race condition in Linux ext4 allows local users to crash the kernel by racing inline-data destruction against block mapping operations. ext4_destroy_inline_data_nolock changes inode layout flags without holding i_data_sem, so ext4_map_blocks can select the indirect mapper while the inode already carries the extents flag. Concurrent filesystem operations on an ext4 inode with inline data are required, and successful triggering interrupts the host through a kernel BUG assertion.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-68261
Published
Dec 16, 2025
Updated
Dec 16, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-367, T1489
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 16, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 16, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=3e96c3fdcfccb321a9e1623f78cc71b44593e965
  2. Affected versionversion=4.11
  3. Affected versionversion=5781ac24bbd998ebb1ff30143bb06244d847af48
  4. Affected versionversion=7cf6b709b6412afd1d93b2c4b37163c3602e3b95
  5. Affected versionversion=9b06cce3ca4d60d442c39bfa7c058b71b1cee6c2
  6. Affected versionversion=c755e251357a0cee0679081f08c3f4ba797a8009 <0cd8feea8777f8d9b9a862b89c688b049a5c8475
  7. Affected versionversion=c755e251357a0cee0679081f08c3f4ba797a8009 <22a76b0861ae61a299c8e126c1aca8c4fda820fd
  8. Affected versionversion=c755e251357a0cee0679081f08c3f4ba797a8009 <5cad18e527ba8a9ca5463cc170073eeb5a4826f4
  9. Affected versionversion=c755e251357a0cee0679081f08c3f4ba797a8009 <ba8aeff294ac7ff6dfe293663d815c54c5ee218c
  10. Affected versionversion=da1e40237f8f3516581b534c484c236a79ccfd14

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3e96c3fdcfccb321a9e1623f78cc71b44593e965; version=4.11; version=5781ac24bbd998ebb1ff30143bb06244d847af48; version=7cf6b709b6412afd1d93b2c4b37163c3602e3b95; version=9b06cce3ca4d60d442c39bfa7c058b71b1cee6c2; version=c755e251357a0cee0679081f08c3f4ba797a8009 <0cd8feea8777f8d9b9a862b89c688b049a5c8475; version=c755e251357a0cee0679081f08c3f4ba797a8009 <22a76b0861ae61a299c8e126c1aca8c4fda820fd; version=c755e251357a0cee0679081f08c3f4ba797a8009 <5cad18e527ba8a9ca5463cc170073eeb5a4826f4; version=c755e251357a0cee0679081f08c3f4ba797a8009 <ba8aeff294ac7ff6dfe293663d815c54c5ee218c; version=da1e40237f8f3516581b534c484c236a79ccfd14

Published CVSS scores

5.5Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.5LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-367Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition
T1489Service Stop

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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