CVE-2026-74572

btrfs: zoned: fix deadlock between metadata writeback and transaction commit

Published Aug 15, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.5 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

btrfs: zoned: fix deadlock between metadata writeback and transaction commit

When writing out metadata extent buffers in a zoned filesystem,
btree_writepages() holds fs_info->zoned_meta_io_lock across the whole
writeback loop, including the call to btrfs_check_meta_write_pointer() ->
check_bg_is_active().

For the tree-log block group, check_bg_is_active() may fail to activate
the zone and fall back to btrfs_zone_finish_one_bg() to free an active
zone. That path waits for the running transaction to commit while still
holding zoned_meta_io_lock, but the committer needs that same lock to
write out the tree extents, so the two tasks deadlock:

Task A (kworker, metadata writeback) Task B (fsstress, transaction commit)
------------------------------------ -------------------------------------
wb_workfn() btrfs_commit_transaction(T)
btree_writepages() btrfs_write_and_wait_transaction()
btrfs_zoned_meta_io_lock() btrfs_write_marked_extents()
btrfs_check_meta_write_pointer() btree_writepages()
check_bg_is_active() [treelog_bg] btrfs_zoned_meta_io_lock()
btrfs_zone_finish_one_bg() <blocks on zoned_meta_io_lock,
btrfs_zone_finish() held by Task A>
do_zone_finish()
btrfs_inc_block_group_ro()
btrfs_wait_for_commit()
<blocks waiting for commit
of transaction T, done by
Task B>

The sibling branch in check_bg_is_active() already drops zoned_meta_io_lock
around do_zone_finish() for this exact reason. Do the same in the tree-log
branch: release the lock around btrfs_zone_finish_one_bg() and re-acquire
it afterwards. The lock only protects fs_info->active_{meta,system}_bg,
which this branch does not touch, and ctx->zoned_bg keeps a reference to
the block group across the unlock, so nothing is lost while the lock
is dropped.

This hang occasionally reproduces with fstests generic/475 on a zoned
btrfs filesystem.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4788-1 linux-6.12 security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6466-1 linux security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9019-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9020-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9022-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9023-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9024-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9025-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9026-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9039-1 Linux kernel (Azure CVM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9040-1 Linux kernel (Low Latency NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9066-1 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-665
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-665
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-667
CWE-674
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-667
CWE-674
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: zoned: fix deadlock between metadata writeback and transaction commit When writing out metadata extent buffers in a zoned filesystem, btree_writepages() holds fs_info->zoned_meta_io_lock across the whole writeback loop, including the call to btrfs_check_meta_write_pointer() -> check_bg_is_active(). For the tree-log block group, check_bg_is_active() may fail to activate the zone and fall back to btrfs_zone_finish_one_bg() to free an active zone. That path waits for the running transaction to commit while still holding zoned_meta_io_lock, but the committer needs that same lock to write out the tree extents, so the two tasks deadlock: Task A (kworker, metadata writeback) Task B (fsstress, transaction commit) ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------- wb_workfn() btrfs_commit_transaction(T) btree_writepages() btrfs_write_and_wait_transaction() btrfs_zoned_meta_io_lock() btrfs_write_marked_extents() btrfs_check_meta_write_pointer() btree_writepages() check_bg_is_active() [treelog_bg] btrfs_zoned_meta_io_lock() btrfs_zone_finish_one_bg() <blocks on zoned_meta_io_lock, btrfs_zone_finish() held by Task A> do_zone_finish() btrfs_inc_block_group_ro() btrfs_wait_for_commit() <blocks waiting for commit of transaction T, done by Task B> The sibling branch in check_bg_is_active() already drops zoned_meta_io_lock around do_zone_finish() for this exact reason. Do the same in the tree-log branch: release the lock around btrfs_zone_finish_one_bg() and re-acquire it afterwards. The lock only protects fs_info->active_{meta,system}_bg, which this branch does not touch, and ctx->zoned_bg keeps a reference to the block group across the unlock, so nothing is lost while the lock is dropped. This hang occasionally reproduces with fstests generic/475 on a zoned btrfs filesystem.
Title btrfs: zoned: fix deadlock between metadata writeback and transaction commit
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
Oct 16, 2026, 7:05 PM
Reserved
Aug 15, 2026, 5:44 AM
Status
Received
Published
Aug 15, 2026, 1:18 PM
Modified
Oct 16, 2026, 8:17 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Aug 15, 2026, 12:00 AM