In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
btrfs: fix memory leak of qgroup_list in btrfs_add_qgroup_relation
When btrfs_add_qgroup_relation() is called with invalid qgroup levels
(src >= dst), the function returns -EINVAL directly without freeing the
preallocated qgroup_list structure passed by the caller. This causes a
memory leak because the caller unconditionally sets the pointer to NULL
after the call, preventing any cleanup.
The issue occurs because the level validation check happens before the
mutex is acquired and before any error handling path that would free
the prealloc pointer. On this early return, the cleanup code at the
'out' label (which includes kfree(prealloc)) is never reached.
In btrfs_ioctl_qgroup_assign(), the code pattern is:
prealloc = kzalloc(sizeof(*prealloc), GFP_KERNEL);
ret = btrfs_add_qgroup_relation(trans, sa->src, sa->dst, prealloc);
prealloc = NULL; // Always set to NULL regardless of return value
...
kfree(prealloc); // This becomes kfree(NULL), does nothing
When the level check fails, 'prealloc' is never freed by either the
callee or the caller, resulting in a 64-byte memory leak per failed
operation. This can be triggered repeatedly by an unprivileged user
with access to a writable btrfs mount, potentially exhausting kernel
memory.
Fix this by freeing prealloc before the early return, ensuring prealloc
is always freed on all error paths.
btrfs: fix memory leak of qgroup_list in btrfs_add_qgroup_relation
When btrfs_add_qgroup_relation() is called with invalid qgroup levels
(src >= dst), the function returns -EINVAL directly without freeing the
preallocated qgroup_list structure passed by the caller. This causes a
memory leak because the caller unconditionally sets the pointer to NULL
after the call, preventing any cleanup.
The issue occurs because the level validation check happens before the
mutex is acquired and before any error handling path that would free
the prealloc pointer. On this early return, the cleanup code at the
'out' label (which includes kfree(prealloc)) is never reached.
In btrfs_ioctl_qgroup_assign(), the code pattern is:
prealloc = kzalloc(sizeof(*prealloc), GFP_KERNEL);
ret = btrfs_add_qgroup_relation(trans, sa->src, sa->dst, prealloc);
prealloc = NULL; // Always set to NULL regardless of return value
...
kfree(prealloc); // This becomes kfree(NULL), does nothing
When the level check fails, 'prealloc' is never freed by either the
callee or the caller, resulting in a 64-byte memory leak per failed
operation. This can be triggered repeatedly by an unprivileged user
with access to a writable btrfs mount, potentially exhausting kernel
memory.
Fix this by freeing prealloc before the early return, ensuring prealloc
is always freed on all error paths.
Metrics
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendors | Products |
|---|---|
| Linux |
|
No data.
No data.
No data.
Advisories
No advisories yet.
Fixes
Solution
No solution given by the vendor.
Workaround
No workaround given by the vendor.
References
History
Sat, 22 Nov 2025 00:15:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| References |
| |
| Metrics |
threat_severity
|
cvssV3_1
|
Fri, 21 Nov 2025 10:30:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: fix memory leak of qgroup_list in btrfs_add_qgroup_relation When btrfs_add_qgroup_relation() is called with invalid qgroup levels (src >= dst), the function returns -EINVAL directly without freeing the preallocated qgroup_list structure passed by the caller. This causes a memory leak because the caller unconditionally sets the pointer to NULL after the call, preventing any cleanup. The issue occurs because the level validation check happens before the mutex is acquired and before any error handling path that would free the prealloc pointer. On this early return, the cleanup code at the 'out' label (which includes kfree(prealloc)) is never reached. In btrfs_ioctl_qgroup_assign(), the code pattern is: prealloc = kzalloc(sizeof(*prealloc), GFP_KERNEL); ret = btrfs_add_qgroup_relation(trans, sa->src, sa->dst, prealloc); prealloc = NULL; // Always set to NULL regardless of return value ... kfree(prealloc); // This becomes kfree(NULL), does nothing When the level check fails, 'prealloc' is never freed by either the callee or the caller, resulting in a 64-byte memory leak per failed operation. This can be triggered repeatedly by an unprivileged user with access to a writable btrfs mount, potentially exhausting kernel memory. Fix this by freeing prealloc before the early return, ensuring prealloc is always freed on all error paths. | |
| Title | btrfs: fix memory leak of qgroup_list in btrfs_add_qgroup_relation | |
| First Time appeared |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| Vendors & Products |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| References |
|
MITRE
Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Linux
Published:
Updated: 2025-11-21T10:19:44.757Z
Reserved: 2025-04-16T07:20:57.179Z
Link: CVE-2025-40209
Vulnrichment
No data.
NVD
Status : Awaiting Analysis
Published: 2025-11-21T11:15:47.000
Modified: 2025-11-21T15:13:13.800
Link: CVE-2025-40209
Redhat
OpenCVE Enrichment
No data.