CVE-2024-50191

ext4: don't set SB_RDONLY after filesystem errors

Published Nov 8, 2024 CVSS 3.1 · 5.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

ext4: don't set SB_RDONLY after filesystem errors

When the filesystem is mounted with errors=remount-ro, we were setting
SB_RDONLY flag to stop all filesystem modifications. We knew this misses
proper locking (sb->s_umount) and does not go through proper filesystem
remount procedure but it has been the way this worked since early ext2
days and it was good enough for catastrophic situation damage
mitigation. Recently, syzbot has found a way (see link) to trigger
warnings in filesystem freezing because the code got confused by
SB_RDONLY changing under its hands. Since these days we set
EXT4_FLAGS_SHUTDOWN on the superblock which is enough to stop all
filesystem modifications, modifying SB_RDONLY shouldn't be needed. So
stop doing that.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4008-1 linux-6.1 security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7166-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7166-2 Linux kernel (AWS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7166-3 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7166-4 Linux kernel (Xilinx ZynqMP) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7186-1 Linux kernel (Intel IoTG) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7186-2 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7194-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7276-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7277-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7310-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7383-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7383-2 Linux kernel (Real-time) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7384-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7384-2 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7385-1 Linux kernel (IBM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7386-1 Linux kernel (OEM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7403-1 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7451-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7468-1 Linux kernel (Azure, N-Series) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7523-1 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi Real-time) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7524-1 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
Vendors & Products Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-833
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Weaknesses NVD-CWE-noinfo
CPEs cpe:2.3:o: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

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: don't set SB_RDONLY after filesystem errors When the filesystem is mounted with errors=remount-ro, we were setting SB_RDONLY flag to stop all filesystem modifications. We knew this misses proper locking (sb->s_umount) and does not go through proper filesystem remount procedure but it has been the way this worked since early ext2 days and it was good enough for catastrophic situation damage mitigation. Recently, syzbot has found a way (see link) to trigger warnings in filesystem freezing because the code got confused by SB_RDONLY changing under its hands. Since these days we set EXT4_FLAGS_SHUTDOWN on the superblock which is enough to stop all filesystem modifications, modifying SB_RDONLY shouldn't be needed. So stop doing that.
Title ext4: don't set SB_RDONLY after filesystem errors
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
May 11, 2026, 8:47 PM
Reserved
Oct 21, 2024, 7:36 PM
Status
Modified
Published
Nov 8, 2024, 6:15 AM
Modified
Jun 17, 2026, 8:03 AM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Nov 8, 2024, 12:00 AM