CVE-2026-64356

xfs: fix memory leak in xfs_dqinode_metadir_create()

Published Jul 25, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 5.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

xfs: fix memory leak in xfs_dqinode_metadir_create()

If xfs_metadir_create() fails in xfs_dqinode_metadir_create(), the current
code returns directly, leaking the allocated update and transaction state.
If the subsequent commit fails, the caller-owned inode reference is left
behind.

Fix this memory leak by routing the create failure path through
xfs_metadir_cancel(). For both create and commit failures, finish and
release any inode returned to the caller, mirroring the unwind pattern in
xfs_metadir_mkdir().

The bug was first flagged by an experimental analysis tool we are
developing for kernel memory-management bugs while analyzing
v6.13-rc1. The tool is still under development and is not yet publicly
available. Manual inspection confirms that the bug is still
present in v7.1.1.

An x86_64 allyesconfig build showed no new warnings. Runtime validation
used kprobe fault injection during `mount -o uquota` on a metadir XFS
image. Injecting xfs_metadir_create() reproduced the old active-update path
that left mount stuck later in mount setup; after this change, the same
injection reported cancel_hits=1 and irele_hits=1. Injecting
xfs_metadir_commit() exercised the old inode-reference leak path; after
this change, it reported irele_hits=1.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8726-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8727-1 Linux kernel (OEM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8728-1 Linux kernel (GCP) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8760-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8726-2 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8726-3 Linux kernel (IBM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8800-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA BaseOS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8760-2 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8726-4 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8728-2 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8728-3 Linux kernel (Oracle) 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
Weaknesses CWE-401
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.2:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-401
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-772
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
Weaknesses CWE-401
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xfs: fix memory leak in xfs_dqinode_metadir_create() If xfs_metadir_create() fails in xfs_dqinode_metadir_create(), the current code returns directly, leaking the allocated update and transaction state. If the subsequent commit fails, the caller-owned inode reference is left behind. Fix this memory leak by routing the create failure path through xfs_metadir_cancel(). For both create and commit failures, finish and release any inode returned to the caller, mirroring the unwind pattern in xfs_metadir_mkdir(). The bug was first flagged by an experimental analysis tool we are developing for kernel memory-management bugs while analyzing v6.13-rc1. The tool is still under development and is not yet publicly available. Manual inspection confirms that the bug is still present in v7.1.1. An x86_64 allyesconfig build showed no new warnings. Runtime validation used kprobe fault injection during `mount -o uquota` on a metadir XFS image. Injecting xfs_metadir_create() reproduced the old active-update path that left mount stuck later in mount setup; after this change, the same injection reported cancel_hits=1 and irele_hits=1. Injecting xfs_metadir_commit() exercised the old inode-reference leak path; after this change, it reported irele_hits=1.
Title xfs: fix memory leak in xfs_dqinode_metadir_create()
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Nov 6, 2026, 4:44 PM
Reserved
Jul 19, 2026, 3:36 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Jul 25, 2026, 10:17 AM
Modified
Nov 6, 2026, 5:18 PM
Severity
Low
Public date
Jul 25, 2026, 12:00 AM