CVE-2023-53429

btrfs: don't check PageError in __extent_writepage

Published Sep 18, 2025 CVSS 3.1 · 7.8 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

btrfs: don't check PageError in __extent_writepage

__extent_writepage currenly sets PageError whenever any error happens,
and the also checks for PageError to decide if to call error handling.
This leads to very unclear responsibility for cleaning up on errors.
In the VM and generic writeback helpers the basic idea is that once
I/O is fired off all error handling responsibility is delegated to the
end I/O handler. But if that end I/O handler sets the PageError bit,
and the submitter checks it, the bit could in some cases leak into the
submission context for fast enough I/O.

Fix this by simply not checking PageError and just using the local
ret variable to check for submission errors. This also fundamentally
solves the long problem documented in a comment in __extent_writepage
by never leaking the error bit into the submission context.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4841-1 linux security update
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2025-29889 In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: don't check PageError in __extent_writepage __extent_writepage currenly sets PageError whenever any error happens, and the also checks for PageError to decide if to call error handling. This leads to very unclear responsibility for cleaning up on errors. In the VM and generic writeback helpers the basic idea is that once I/O is fired off all error handling responsibility is delegated to the end I/O handler. But if that end I/O handler sets the PageError bit, and the submitter checks it, the bit could in some cases leak into the submission context for fast enough I/O. Fix this by simply not checking PageError and just using the local ret variable to check for submission errors. This also fundamentally solves the long problem documented in a comment in __extent_writepage by never leaking the error bit into the submission context.
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses NVD-CWE-noinfo
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Low

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: don't check PageError in __extent_writepage __extent_writepage currenly sets PageError whenever any error happens, and the also checks for PageError to decide if to call error handling. This leads to very unclear responsibility for cleaning up on errors. In the VM and generic writeback helpers the basic idea is that once I/O is fired off all error handling responsibility is delegated to the end I/O handler. But if that end I/O handler sets the PageError bit, and the submitter checks it, the bit could in some cases leak into the submission context for fast enough I/O. Fix this by simply not checking PageError and just using the local ret variable to check for submission errors. This also fundamentally solves the long problem documented in a comment in __extent_writepage by never leaking the error bit into the submission context.
Title btrfs: don't check PageError in __extent_writepage
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Oct 3, 2026, 10:54 AM
Reserved
Sep 17, 2025, 2:54 PM
Status
Modified
Published
Sep 18, 2025, 4:15 PM
Modified
Oct 3, 2026, 11:17 AM
Severity
Low
Public date
Sep 18, 2025, 12:00 AM