Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

btrfs: release path before iget_failed() in btrfs_read_locked_inode()

In btrfs_read_locked_inode() if we fail to lookup the inode, we jump to
the 'out' label with a path that has a read locked leaf and then we call
iget_failed(). This can result in a ABBA deadlock, since iget_failed()
triggers inode eviction and that causes the release of the delayed inode,
which must lock the delayed inode's mutex, and a task updating a delayed
inode starts by taking the node's mutex and then modifying the inode's
subvolume btree.

Syzbot reported the following lockdep splat for this:

======================================================
WARNING: possible circular locking dependency detected
syzkaller #0 Not tainted
------------------------------------------------------
btrfs-cleaner/8725 is trying to acquire lock:
ffff0000d6826a48 (&delayed_node->mutex){+.+.}-{4:4}, at: __btrfs_release_delayed_node+0xa0/0x9b0 fs/btrfs/delayed-inode.c:290

but task is already holding lock:
ffff0000dbeba878 (btrfs-tree-00){++++}-{4:4}, at: btrfs_tree_read_lock_nested+0x44/0x2ec fs/btrfs/locking.c:145

which lock already depends on the new lock.

the existing dependency chain (in reverse order) is:

-> #1 (btrfs-tree-00){++++}-{4:4}:
__lock_release kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5574 [inline]
lock_release+0x198/0x39c kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5889
up_read+0x24/0x3c kernel/locking/rwsem.c:1632
btrfs_tree_read_unlock+0xdc/0x298 fs/btrfs/locking.c:169
btrfs_tree_unlock_rw fs/btrfs/locking.h:218 [inline]
btrfs_search_slot+0xa6c/0x223c fs/btrfs/ctree.c:2133
btrfs_lookup_inode+0xd8/0x38c fs/btrfs/inode-item.c:395
__btrfs_update_delayed_inode+0x124/0xed0 fs/btrfs/delayed-inode.c:1032
btrfs_update_delayed_inode fs/btrfs/delayed-inode.c:1118 [inline]
__btrfs_commit_inode_delayed_items+0x15f8/0x1748 fs/btrfs/delayed-inode.c:1141
__btrfs_run_delayed_items+0x1ac/0x514 fs/btrfs/delayed-inode.c:1176
btrfs_run_delayed_items_nr+0x28/0x38 fs/btrfs/delayed-inode.c:1219
flush_space+0x26c/0xb68 fs/btrfs/space-info.c:828
do_async_reclaim_metadata_space+0x110/0x364 fs/btrfs/space-info.c:1158
btrfs_async_reclaim_metadata_space+0x90/0xd8 fs/btrfs/space-info.c:1226
process_one_work+0x7e8/0x155c kernel/workqueue.c:3263
process_scheduled_works kernel/workqueue.c:3346 [inline]
worker_thread+0x958/0xed8 kernel/workqueue.c:3427
kthread+0x5fc/0x75c kernel/kthread.c:463
ret_from_fork+0x10/0x20 arch/arm64/kernel/entry.S:844

-> #0 (&delayed_node->mutex){+.+.}-{4:4}:
check_prev_add kernel/locking/lockdep.c:3165 [inline]
check_prevs_add kernel/locking/lockdep.c:3284 [inline]
validate_chain kernel/locking/lockdep.c:3908 [inline]
__lock_acquire+0x1774/0x30a4 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5237
lock_acquire+0x14c/0x2e0 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5868
__mutex_lock_common+0x1d0/0x2678 kernel/locking/mutex.c:598
__mutex_lock kernel/locking/mutex.c:760 [inline]
mutex_lock_nested+0x2c/0x38 kernel/locking/mutex.c:812
__btrfs_release_delayed_node+0xa0/0x9b0 fs/btrfs/delayed-inode.c:290
btrfs_release_delayed_node fs/btrfs/delayed-inode.c:315 [inline]
btrfs_remove_delayed_node+0x68/0x84 fs/btrfs/delayed-inode.c:1326
btrfs_evict_inode+0x578/0xe28 fs/btrfs/inode.c:5587
evict+0x414/0x928 fs/inode.c:810
iput_final fs/inode.c:1914 [inline]
iput+0x95c/0xad4 fs/inode.c:1966
iget_failed+0xec/0x134 fs/bad_inode.c:248
btrfs_read_locked_inode+0xe1c/0x1234 fs/btrfs/inode.c:4101
btrfs_iget+0x1b0/0x264 fs/btrfs/inode.c:5837
btrfs_run_defrag_inode fs/btrfs/defrag.c:237 [inline]
btrfs_run_defrag_inodes+0x520/0xdc4 fs/btrf
---truncated---
Published: 2026-01-31
Score: 5.5 Medium
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: Deadlock leading to system hang
Action: Assess Impact
AI Analysis

Impact

An internal bug in the Linux kernel’s btrfs file system can cause an ABBA deadlock when the path to a delayed inode is released before an inode lookup failure is handled. The resulting circular lock dependency can bring the kernel to a halt, causing the system to become unresponsive or to require a reboot. The severity is not a data breach but a denial‑of‑service condition that may disrupt all processes running on the affected node.

Affected Systems

The issue affects any Linux kernel that implements the btrfs file system. No specific kernel release is listed, so the vulnerability may be present in all current and older versions that expose the bug until it is patched.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS score of 5.5 and an EPSS of < 1% imply a moderate base risk with a low probability of active exploitation. The vulnerability is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog and no publicly known exploits exist. The likely attack vector is local; an attacker may trigger the deadlock by performing btrfs file operations that cause an inode lookup to fail, such as manipulating files or triggering space reclamation. If exploited, the kernel would deadlock and a system restart would be required to recover.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on April 18, 2026 at 00:52 UTC.

Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Upgrade the Linux kernel to a release that contains the btrfs deadlock fix. The vendor’s stable updates address this issue; install the latest available revision for your distribution.
  • Enable kernel lock debugging or monitor btrfs activity for signs of lockdep warnings, as they may indicate the deadlock is occurring in the field.
  • If an immediate kernel update is not possible, monitor the system for hangs or unexpected reboots and plan a scheduled kernel upgrade during maintenance windows.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on April 18, 2026 at 00:52 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories yet.

History

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 01:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-667

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 12:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
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

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: release path before iget_failed() in btrfs_read_locked_inode() In btrfs_read_locked_inode() if we fail to lookup the inode, we jump to the 'out' label with a path that has a read locked leaf and then we call iget_failed(). This can result in a ABBA deadlock, since iget_failed() triggers inode eviction and that causes the release of the delayed inode, which must lock the delayed inode's mutex, and a task updating a delayed inode starts by taking the node's mutex and then modifying the inode's subvolume btree. Syzbot reported the following lockdep splat for this: ====================================================== WARNING: possible circular locking dependency detected syzkaller #0 Not tainted ------------------------------------------------------ btrfs-cleaner/8725 is trying to acquire lock: ffff0000d6826a48 (&delayed_node->mutex){+.+.}-{4:4}, at: __btrfs_release_delayed_node+0xa0/0x9b0 fs/btrfs/delayed-inode.c:290 but task is already holding lock: ffff0000dbeba878 (btrfs-tree-00){++++}-{4:4}, at: btrfs_tree_read_lock_nested+0x44/0x2ec fs/btrfs/locking.c:145 which lock already depends on the new lock. the existing dependency chain (in reverse order) is: -> #1 (btrfs-tree-00){++++}-{4:4}: __lock_release kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5574 [inline] lock_release+0x198/0x39c kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5889 up_read+0x24/0x3c kernel/locking/rwsem.c:1632 btrfs_tree_read_unlock+0xdc/0x298 fs/btrfs/locking.c:169 btrfs_tree_unlock_rw fs/btrfs/locking.h:218 [inline] btrfs_search_slot+0xa6c/0x223c fs/btrfs/ctree.c:2133 btrfs_lookup_inode+0xd8/0x38c fs/btrfs/inode-item.c:395 __btrfs_update_delayed_inode+0x124/0xed0 fs/btrfs/delayed-inode.c:1032 btrfs_update_delayed_inode fs/btrfs/delayed-inode.c:1118 [inline] __btrfs_commit_inode_delayed_items+0x15f8/0x1748 fs/btrfs/delayed-inode.c:1141 __btrfs_run_delayed_items+0x1ac/0x514 fs/btrfs/delayed-inode.c:1176 btrfs_run_delayed_items_nr+0x28/0x38 fs/btrfs/delayed-inode.c:1219 flush_space+0x26c/0xb68 fs/btrfs/space-info.c:828 do_async_reclaim_metadata_space+0x110/0x364 fs/btrfs/space-info.c:1158 btrfs_async_reclaim_metadata_space+0x90/0xd8 fs/btrfs/space-info.c:1226 process_one_work+0x7e8/0x155c kernel/workqueue.c:3263 process_scheduled_works kernel/workqueue.c:3346 [inline] worker_thread+0x958/0xed8 kernel/workqueue.c:3427 kthread+0x5fc/0x75c kernel/kthread.c:463 ret_from_fork+0x10/0x20 arch/arm64/kernel/entry.S:844 -> #0 (&delayed_node->mutex){+.+.}-{4:4}: check_prev_add kernel/locking/lockdep.c:3165 [inline] check_prevs_add kernel/locking/lockdep.c:3284 [inline] validate_chain kernel/locking/lockdep.c:3908 [inline] __lock_acquire+0x1774/0x30a4 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5237 lock_acquire+0x14c/0x2e0 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5868 __mutex_lock_common+0x1d0/0x2678 kernel/locking/mutex.c:598 __mutex_lock kernel/locking/mutex.c:760 [inline] mutex_lock_nested+0x2c/0x38 kernel/locking/mutex.c:812 __btrfs_release_delayed_node+0xa0/0x9b0 fs/btrfs/delayed-inode.c:290 btrfs_release_delayed_node fs/btrfs/delayed-inode.c:315 [inline] btrfs_remove_delayed_node+0x68/0x84 fs/btrfs/delayed-inode.c:1326 btrfs_evict_inode+0x578/0xe28 fs/btrfs/inode.c:5587 evict+0x414/0x928 fs/inode.c:810 iput_final fs/inode.c:1914 [inline] iput+0x95c/0xad4 fs/inode.c:1966 iget_failed+0xec/0x134 fs/bad_inode.c:248 btrfs_read_locked_inode+0xe1c/0x1234 fs/btrfs/inode.c:4101 btrfs_iget+0x1b0/0x264 fs/btrfs/inode.c:5837 btrfs_run_defrag_inode fs/btrfs/defrag.c:237 [inline] btrfs_run_defrag_inodes+0x520/0xdc4 fs/btrf ---truncated---
Title btrfs: release path before iget_failed() in btrfs_read_locked_inode()
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

Subscriptions

Linux Linux Kernel
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-02-09T08:37:30.880Z

Reserved: 2026-01-13T15:37:45.943Z

Link: CVE-2026-23036

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Deferred

Published: 2026-01-31T12:16:06.910

Modified: 2026-04-15T00:35:42.020

Link: CVE-2026-23036

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Low

Publid Date: 2026-01-31T00:00:00Z

Links: CVE-2026-23036 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-04-18T01:00:11Z

Weaknesses