CVE-2026-89787

ext4: check dir entry fits before reading the hash trailer in ext4_search_dir()

Published Sep 16, 2026 CVSS n/a EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

ext4: check dir entry fits before reading the hash trailer in ext4_search_dir()

For casefolded encrypted directories ext4 stores an 8-byte hash trailer
after the name (EXT4_DIRENT_HASHES()), at an offset derived from
de->name_len. On the sb_no_casefold_compat_fallback() path ext4_match()
reads that trailer, but ext4_search_dir()'s by-hand pre-check only tests
de->name + de->name_len <= dlimit, which proves the name fits, not the
rounded trailer. A crafted entry whose name ends at the block boundary
passes the check while EXT4_DIRENT_HASHES(de) lands past the block end,
so ext4_match() reads out of bounds on an ordinary lookup. KASAN reports
it as a use-after-free when the page after the directory block holds a
freed object:

BUG: KASAN: use-after-free in ext4_match (fs/ext4/namei.c:1435)
Read of size 4 at addr ffff888010458000 by task exploit
Call Trace:
ext4_match (fs/ext4/namei.c:1435)
ext4_search_dir (fs/ext4/namei.c:1470)
__ext4_find_entry (fs/ext4/namei.c:1268 fs/ext4/namei.c:1632)
ext4_lookup (fs/ext4/namei.c:1703 fs/ext4/namei.c:1769)
...
filename_lookup (fs/namei.c:2842)
vfs_statx (fs/stat.c:353)
__do_sys_newfstatat (fs/stat.c:538)
do_syscall_64 (arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94)
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe (arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:121)

Require, for hash-in-dirent directories, that the whole entry including
the rounded trailer fits before calling ext4_match(). This is the same
bound ext4_check_dir_entry() already enforces via ext4_dir_rec_len(), so
no well-formed entry is rejected. The other caller, ext4_find_dest_de(),
runs ext4_check_dir_entry() first and is unaffected.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4817-1 linux-6.12 security update
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4841-1 linux security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6528-1 linux security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8961-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
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-9029-1 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) 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
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9091-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA Tegra) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-119
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-416
CWE-787
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-416
CWE-787
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: check dir entry fits before reading the hash trailer in ext4_search_dir() For casefolded encrypted directories ext4 stores an 8-byte hash trailer after the name (EXT4_DIRENT_HASHES()), at an offset derived from de->name_len. On the sb_no_casefold_compat_fallback() path ext4_match() reads that trailer, but ext4_search_dir()'s by-hand pre-check only tests de->name + de->name_len <= dlimit, which proves the name fits, not the rounded trailer. A crafted entry whose name ends at the block boundary passes the check while EXT4_DIRENT_HASHES(de) lands past the block end, so ext4_match() reads out of bounds on an ordinary lookup. KASAN reports it as a use-after-free when the page after the directory block holds a freed object: BUG: KASAN: use-after-free in ext4_match (fs/ext4/namei.c:1435) Read of size 4 at addr ffff888010458000 by task exploit Call Trace: ext4_match (fs/ext4/namei.c:1435) ext4_search_dir (fs/ext4/namei.c:1470) __ext4_find_entry (fs/ext4/namei.c:1268 fs/ext4/namei.c:1632) ext4_lookup (fs/ext4/namei.c:1703 fs/ext4/namei.c:1769) ... filename_lookup (fs/namei.c:2842) vfs_statx (fs/stat.c:353) __do_sys_newfstatat (fs/stat.c:538) do_syscall_64 (arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94) entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe (arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:121) Require, for hash-in-dirent directories, that the whole entry including the rounded trailer fits before calling ext4_match(). This is the same bound ext4_check_dir_entry() already enforces via ext4_dir_rec_len(), so no well-formed entry is rejected. The other caller, ext4_find_dest_de(), runs ext4_check_dir_entry() first and is unaffected.
Title ext4: check dir entry fits before reading the hash trailer in ext4_search_dir()
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 19, 2026, 8:52 AM
Reserved
Sep 11, 2026, 7:38 PM
Status
Received
Published
Sep 16, 2026, 9:17 AM
Modified
Oct 19, 2026, 9:18 AM