CVE-2026-72163: Linux kernel · ocfs2: fix NULL h_transaction deref in ocfs2_assure_trans_credits
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · fixed in f14aaaa130356ee4adb44de947c098637c70df8f : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 6 Nov 2026, 17:04 UTC
Rated by Threat Radar · CVSS not yet scored by NVD
Thin evidence
One scorer or none- 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, 2026-11-06.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in f14aaaa130356ee4adb44de947c098637c70df8f, f9ab30c96b0f00c20c6dac93681bdae3a033d229, bd73971fad89d5ee4ea0ba9b92d2ea08733c4a64 +10
Exploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 15 Aug 2026
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 6 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– |
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ocfs2: fix NULL h_transaction deref in ocfs2_assure_trans_credits [BUG] A direct write over unwritten extents can panic the kernel in ocfs2_assure_trans_credits() when the journal aborts during DIO completion. The crash is a general protection fault from a NULL pointer dereference. [CAUSE] ocfs2_dio_end_io_write() loops over a direct write's unwritten extents, marking each written under a single journal handle. If the journal aborts (for example after an I/O error) while the extent tree is being updated, the handle is left aborted with its transaction pointer cleared. The extent merge treats that failure as not critical and reports success, so the loop keeps using the handle. ocfs2_assure_trans_credits() reads the handle's remaining credits without first checking whether the handle is aborted, and that read dereferences the cleared transaction pointer. [FIX] A journal abort is recorded in the handle itself, so callers are expected to test the handle rather than rely on a returned error. Make ocfs2_assure_trans_credits() do that, as the other ocfs2 journal helpers already do, and return -EROFS when the handle is aborted.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2d80e9c56718435a9c9f5f24dbc954989aead579 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/942b818b396c24c452681803ff291552317d2ef1 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7146d191dae3a8efdb957993fb61a55713186266 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f14aaaa130356ee4adb44de947c098637c70df8f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6ad7532a23bc94076efe9f1486dd7f7493c090ff (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/bd73971fad89d5ee4ea0ba9b92d2ea08733c4a64 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/253ed993e0b36997ec7b04c1ff76103b38241de2 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f9ab30c96b0f00c20c6dac93681bdae3a033d229 (opens in a new tab)