CVE-2025-68264: Linux kernel · ext4: refresh inline data size before write operations
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · fixed in 5.15.0-1103.110~20.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
Rated by Threat Radar · No CVSS score from NVD or the CNA
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 12% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1103.110~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1110.119~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1114.123~20.04.1 +71
Exploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 16 Dec 2025
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: 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 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 25.10linuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux@6.17.0-19.19?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws@6.17.0-1009.9?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure@6.17.0-1010.10?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde@6.17.0-1017.17?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp@6.17.0-1009.9?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-oraclepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oracle@6.17.0-1009.9?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A patch is available and should be applied to affected Linux kernel versions. The fix recalculates the inline data size after acquiring the xattr semaphore to prevent stale values from causing crashes. Systems running affected kernel versions should update to a patched version as provided by their vendor. According to the Ubuntu advisory, this issue is addressed in updated kernel packages.
Description
A race condition vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ext4 filesystem was resolved. The issue involves stale cached inline data size values used during write operations, which can lead to a kernel BUG_ON() crash. This occurs when concurrent extended attribute (xattr) operations modify the inline data size between the initial size check and the write operation, causing the system to attempt writes beyond the actual inline data capacity. The fix recalculates the inline data size after acquiring the necessary lock to prevent stale values from being used.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-68264 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-68264 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/892e1cf17555735e9d021ab036c36bc7b58b0e3b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/210ac60a86a3ad2c76ae60e0dc71c34af6e7ea0b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/58df743faf21ceb1880f930aa5dd428e2a5e415d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/892e1cf17555735e9d021ab036c36bc7b58b0e3b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ca43ea29b4c4d2764aec8a26cffcfb677a871e6e (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8094-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8096-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8096-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8094-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8096-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8096-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8116-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8096-5 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8094-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8094-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8094-5 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8141-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8152-1 (opens in a new tab)