CVE-2025-68820: Linux kernel · ext4: xattr: fix null pointer deref in ext4_raw_inode()
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, 12:55 UTC
Rated by Threat Radar · No CVSS score from NVD or the CNA
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 14% 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, 5.15.0-1103.112~20.04.1 +70
Exploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 13 Jan 2026
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.
Patches and advisories
- 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-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-8141-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8163-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8163-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8177-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8179-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8177-2 (opens in a new tab)
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 25.10linuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-oraclepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oracle?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.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: xattr: fix null pointer deref in ext4_raw_inode() If ext4_get_inode_loc() fails (e.g. if it returns -EFSCORRUPTED), iloc.bh will remain set to NULL. Since ext4_xattr_inode_dec_ref_all() lacks error checking, this will lead to a null pointer dereference in ext4_raw_inode(), called right after ext4_get_inode_loc(). Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with SVACE.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-68820 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-68820 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/b97cb7d6a051aa6ebd57906df0e26e9e36c26d14 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/190ad0f22ba49f1101182b80e3af50ca2ddfe72f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5b154e901fda2e98570b8f426a481f5740097dc2 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b5d942922182e82724b7152cb998f540132885ec (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b97cb7d6a051aa6ebd57906df0e26e9e36c26d14 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ce5f54c065a4a7cbb92787f4f140917112350142 (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-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-8141-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8163-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8163-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8177-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8179-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8177-2 (opens in a new tab)