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

ext4: avoid allocate block from corrupted group in ext4_mb_find_by_goal()

There's issue as follows:
...
EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): Delayed block allocation failed for inode 206 at logical offset 0 with max blocks 1 with error 117
EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): This should not happen!! Data will be lost

EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): Delayed block allocation failed for inode 206 at logical offset 0 with max blocks 1 with error 117
EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): This should not happen!! Data will be lost

EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): Delayed block allocation failed for inode 206 at logical offset 0 with max blocks 1 with error 117
EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): This should not happen!! Data will be lost

EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): Delayed block allocation failed for inode 206 at logical offset 0 with max blocks 1 with error 117
EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): This should not happen!! Data will be lost

EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): Delayed block allocation failed for inode 2243 at logical offset 0 with max blocks 1 with error 117
EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): This should not happen!! Data will be lost

EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): Delayed block allocation failed for inode 2239 at logical offset 0 with max blocks 1 with error 117
EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): This should not happen!! Data will be lost

EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): error count since last fsck: 1
EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): initial error at time 1765597433: ext4_mb_generate_buddy:760
EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): last error at time 1765597433: ext4_mb_generate_buddy:760
...

According to the log analysis, blocks are always requested from the
corrupted block group. This may happen as follows:
ext4_mb_find_by_goal
ext4_mb_load_buddy
ext4_mb_load_buddy_gfp
ext4_mb_init_cache
ext4_read_block_bitmap_nowait
ext4_wait_block_bitmap
ext4_validate_block_bitmap
if (!grp || EXT4_MB_GRP_BBITMAP_CORRUPT(grp))
return -EFSCORRUPTED; // There's no logs.
if (err)
return err; // Will return error
ext4_lock_group(ac->ac_sb, group);
if (unlikely(EXT4_MB_GRP_BBITMAP_CORRUPT(e4b->bd_info))) // Unreachable
goto out;

After commit 9008a58e5dce ("ext4: make the bitmap read routines return
real error codes") merged, Commit 163a203ddb36 ("ext4: mark block group
as corrupt on block bitmap error") is no real solution for allocating
blocks from corrupted block groups. This is because if
'EXT4_MB_GRP_BBITMAP_CORRUPT(e4b->bd_info)' is true, then
'ext4_mb_load_buddy()' may return an error. This means that the block
allocation will fail.
Therefore, check block group if corrupted when ext4_mb_load_buddy()
returns error.
Published: 2026-05-05
Score: n/a
EPSS: n/a
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

Impact

The vulnerability is in the ext4 filesystem’s block allocation routine. When a block group bitmap is corrupted, the allocation path may mistakenly request blocks from that group, causing delayed block allocation failures as indicated by the kernel logs. The kernel logs include repeated messages stating “Data will be lost”, showing that an inconsistent filesystem state may lead to loss of file data. The weakness is a data‑integrity flaw (CWE‑399).

Affected Systems

All Linux kernel versions that incorporate the ext4 filesystem and have not yet integrated the fixes in commits 9008a58e5dce and 163a203ddb36 are potentially affected. No specific kernel releases are enumerated; therefore, any system running a Linux kernel where ext4 code unmodified by those commits might be vulnerable.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS score is not provided and EPSS data is unavailable, so the exploit probability cannot be quantified. The vulnerability is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog. The risk manifests when a block group bitmap becomes corrupted, leading to possible data loss. There is no documented remote exploitation path; the threat vector would likely require an adversary that can induce or discover filesystem corruption, perhaps through hardware failure or local tampering.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on May 5, 2026 at 18:51 UTC.

Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Apply a kernel update that includes commits 9008a58e5dce and 163a203ddb36, which fix the block‑allocation path for corrupted groups.
  • Run fsck.ext4 (or e2fsck –f) on each ext4 filesystem to detect and correct corrupted block groups.
  • Monitor system logs for "Delayed block allocation failed" messages and perform filesystem repair or migration when such events occur.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on May 5, 2026 at 18:51 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories

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History

Tue, 05 May 2026 16:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: avoid allocate block from corrupted group in ext4_mb_find_by_goal() There's issue as follows: ... EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): Delayed block allocation failed for inode 206 at logical offset 0 with max blocks 1 with error 117 EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): This should not happen!! Data will be lost EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): Delayed block allocation failed for inode 206 at logical offset 0 with max blocks 1 with error 117 EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): This should not happen!! Data will be lost EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): Delayed block allocation failed for inode 206 at logical offset 0 with max blocks 1 with error 117 EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): This should not happen!! Data will be lost EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): Delayed block allocation failed for inode 206 at logical offset 0 with max blocks 1 with error 117 EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): This should not happen!! Data will be lost EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): Delayed block allocation failed for inode 2243 at logical offset 0 with max blocks 1 with error 117 EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): This should not happen!! Data will be lost EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): Delayed block allocation failed for inode 2239 at logical offset 0 with max blocks 1 with error 117 EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): This should not happen!! Data will be lost EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): error count since last fsck: 1 EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): initial error at time 1765597433: ext4_mb_generate_buddy:760 EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): last error at time 1765597433: ext4_mb_generate_buddy:760 ... According to the log analysis, blocks are always requested from the corrupted block group. This may happen as follows: ext4_mb_find_by_goal ext4_mb_load_buddy ext4_mb_load_buddy_gfp ext4_mb_init_cache ext4_read_block_bitmap_nowait ext4_wait_block_bitmap ext4_validate_block_bitmap if (!grp || EXT4_MB_GRP_BBITMAP_CORRUPT(grp)) return -EFSCORRUPTED; // There's no logs. if (err) return err; // Will return error ext4_lock_group(ac->ac_sb, group); if (unlikely(EXT4_MB_GRP_BBITMAP_CORRUPT(e4b->bd_info))) // Unreachable goto out; After commit 9008a58e5dce ("ext4: make the bitmap read routines return real error codes") merged, Commit 163a203ddb36 ("ext4: mark block group as corrupt on block bitmap error") is no real solution for allocating blocks from corrupted block groups. This is because if 'EXT4_MB_GRP_BBITMAP_CORRUPT(e4b->bd_info)' is true, then 'ext4_mb_load_buddy()' may return an error. This means that the block allocation will fail. Therefore, check block group if corrupted when ext4_mb_load_buddy() returns error.
Title ext4: avoid allocate block from corrupted group in ext4_mb_find_by_goal()
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: 2026-05-05T15:23:27.371Z

Reserved: 2026-05-01T14:12:55.982Z

Link: CVE-2026-43068

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-05-05T16:16:16.053

Modified: 2026-05-05T16:16:16.053

Link: CVE-2026-43068

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-05-05T19:00:12Z

Weaknesses

No weakness.