CVE-2025-68261: Linux kernel · ext4: add i_data_sem protection in ext4_destroy_inline_data_nolock()
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.5 High · fixed in ba8aeff294ac7ff6dfe293663d815c54c5ee218c : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 10 Nov 2026, 13:17 UTC
Thin evidence
One scorer or none| CNA (Linux) | CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 |
|---|
- CISA SSVC
- Exploitation
- No evidence of active exploitation and no public proof of concept
- Automatable
- Attackers cannot reliably automate steps 1–4 of the kill chain
- Technical impact
- Limited control over the software or limited information exposure
CISA SSVC assessment, 2026-06-16.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in ba8aeff294ac7ff6dfe293663d815c54c5ee218c, b322bac9f01d03190b5abc52be5d9dd9f22a2b41, 144c48da33a01d92995aeccd8208eb47d2a8e659 +10
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 16 Dec 2025
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 10 Nov 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
A fix is available and has been incorporated in Linux kernel versions 4.11 and later. Users and administrators should upgrade affected Linux kernel versions to 4.11 or newer to remediate this issue. No additional mitigation actions are indicated by the vendor advisory.
Description
CVE-2025-68261 is a race condition vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ext4 filesystem code. It occurs due to missing i_data_sem locking in the ext4_destroy_inline_data_nolock() function, which modifies inode data layout flags. Concurrent execution of ext4_map_blocks() can observe inconsistent inode state, leading to a kernel BUG and potential system crash. This issue has been fixed in Linux kernel versions 4.11 and later.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b322bac9f01d03190b5abc52be5d9dd9f22a2b41 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/61e03dc3794ebf77a706b85e5a36c9c6d70be6de (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5b266cf6851ce72b11b067fe02adf5a8687104ad (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/144c48da33a01d92995aeccd8208eb47d2a8e659 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/22a76b0861ae61a299c8e126c1aca8c4fda820fd (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ba8aeff294ac7ff6dfe293663d815c54c5ee218c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5cad18e527ba8a9ca5463cc170073eeb5a4826f4 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0cd8feea8777f8d9b9a862b89c688b049a5c8475 (opens in a new tab)
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-019113.html (opens in a new tab)
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-457936.html (opens in a new tab)