CVE-2026-97415: Linux kernel · btrfs: tree-checker: validate names in ROOT_REF and ROOT_BACKREF
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 2% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 24 Sep 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
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther 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 fix for this vulnerability is available and should be applied by updating to a patched Linux kernel version. The patch includes validation of ROOT_REF and ROOT_BACKREF items before use and limits data copying to validated lengths. Users should apply official kernel updates from their distribution vendors to remediate this issue.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's Btrfs filesystem tree-checker has been resolved. The issue involves improper validation of names in ROOT_REF and ROOT_BACKREF items, which can lead to out-of-bounds memory access when corrupted items are processed. This can cause excessive data copying into fixed-size buffers during the BTRFS_IOC_GET_SUBVOL_INFO ioctl call. The fix involves validating these items before use and restricting copy lengths to validated name lengths.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-97415 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-97415 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/74f577c722c99248d804eca18e7de7c5e47549d7 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9154542070ca7eadb3c764a882f39a127677854b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0af37c217edf15fa21dac1c40822086df356c6bb (opens in a new tab)
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97415 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1370badf6b823ce3cde39a65f46f9e5dc7b4bf43 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ba6c4fc662853f6662e4db060cf88ee994053e21 (opens in a new tab)