CVE-2026-98683

smb: client: flush dirty data before zeroing a range

Published Oct 18, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 2.5 Low EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

smb: client: flush dirty data before zeroing a range

smb3_zero_range() emulates FALLOC_FL_ZERO_RANGE by invalidating the
page cache over the target range with truncate_pagecache_range() and
then issuing FSCTL_SET_ZERO_DATA to the server.

Dirty data was only flushed conditionally, when the range reached or
extended EOF. For a purely interior zero range that does not reach
EOF, no flush happened, so a dirty folio overlapping the range could
be written back to the server after the FSCTL and refill the range
that was just zeroed with stale data.

Fix this by unconditionally flushing and waiting for dirty data in the
range before invalidating the page cache and issuing
FSCTL_SET_ZERO_DATA, exactly as was done for smb3_punch_hole() in
commit d7d2adcd022b ("smb/client: flush dirty data before punching a
hole"); the two paths are structurally identical here.

This is observed as generic/363 randomly reading stale data where a
zeroed range is expected against Windows Server.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9018-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9018-2 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9019-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9020-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-821
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 2.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N'}

threat_severity

Low

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-596
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: smb: client: flush dirty data before zeroing a range smb3_zero_range() emulates FALLOC_FL_ZERO_RANGE by invalidating the page cache over the target range with truncate_pagecache_range() and then issuing FSCTL_SET_ZERO_DATA to the server. Dirty data was only flushed conditionally, when the range reached or extended EOF. For a purely interior zero range that does not reach EOF, no flush happened, so a dirty folio overlapping the range could be written back to the server after the FSCTL and refill the range that was just zeroed with stale data. Fix this by unconditionally flushing and waiting for dirty data in the range before invalidating the page cache and issuing FSCTL_SET_ZERO_DATA, exactly as was done for smb3_punch_hole() in commit d7d2adcd022b ("smb/client: flush dirty data before punching a hole"); the two paths are structurally identical here. This is observed as generic/363 randomly reading stale data where a zeroed range is expected against Windows Server.
Title smb: client: flush dirty data before zeroing a range
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 10, 2026, 6:15 PM
Reserved
Sep 25, 2026, 10:25 AM
Status
Received
Published
Oct 18, 2026, 4:17 PM
Modified
Nov 10, 2026, 7:22 PM
Severity
Low
Public date
Oct 18, 2026, 12:00 AM