Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

ksmbd: vfs: fix race on m_flags in vfs_cache

ksmbd maintains delete-on-close and pending-delete state in
ksmbd_inode->m_flags. In vfs_cache.c this field is accessed under
inconsistent locking: some paths read and modify m_flags under
ci->m_lock while others do so without taking the lock at all.

Examples:

- ksmbd_query_inode_status() and __ksmbd_inode_close() use
ci->m_lock when checking or updating m_flags.
- ksmbd_inode_pending_delete(), ksmbd_set_inode_pending_delete(),
ksmbd_clear_inode_pending_delete() and ksmbd_fd_set_delete_on_close()
used to read and modify m_flags without ci->m_lock.

This creates a potential data race on m_flags when multiple threads
open, close and delete the same file concurrently. In the worst case
delete-on-close and pending-delete bits can be lost or observed in an
inconsistent state, leading to confusing delete semantics (files that
stay on disk after delete-on-close, or files that disappear while still
in use).

Fix it by:

- Making ksmbd_query_inode_status() look at m_flags under ci->m_lock
after dropping inode_hash_lock.
- Adding ci->m_lock protection to all helpers that read or modify
m_flags (ksmbd_inode_pending_delete(), ksmbd_set_inode_pending_delete(),
ksmbd_clear_inode_pending_delete(), ksmbd_fd_set_delete_on_close()).
- Keeping the existing ci->m_lock protection in __ksmbd_inode_close(),
and moving the actual unlink/xattr removal outside the lock.

This unifies the locking around m_flags and removes the data race while
preserving the existing delete-on-close behaviour.
Published: 2026-01-13
Score: n/a
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

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Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

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Tracking

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Advisories
Source ID Title
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6126-1 linux security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8177-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8179-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8177-2 Linux kernel (Real-time) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8183-1 Linux kernel (GCP) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8184-1 Linux kernel (Real-time) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8179-2 Linux kernel (FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8185-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8179-3 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8183-2 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8203-1 Linux kernel (Oracle) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8204-1 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi Real-time) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8185-2 Linux kernel (Low Latency NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8179-4 Linux kernel (GCP) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8245-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8257-1 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8258-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8260-1 Linux kernel (Azure FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8261-1 Linux kernel (Xilinx) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8265-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA Tegra) vulnerabilities
History

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:15:00 +0000


Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ksmbd: vfs: fix race on m_flags in vfs_cache ksmbd maintains delete-on-close and pending-delete state in ksmbd_inode->m_flags. In vfs_cache.c this field is accessed under inconsistent locking: some paths read and modify m_flags under ci->m_lock while others do so without taking the lock at all. Examples: - ksmbd_query_inode_status() and __ksmbd_inode_close() use ci->m_lock when checking or updating m_flags. - ksmbd_inode_pending_delete(), ksmbd_set_inode_pending_delete(), ksmbd_clear_inode_pending_delete() and ksmbd_fd_set_delete_on_close() used to read and modify m_flags without ci->m_lock. This creates a potential data race on m_flags when multiple threads open, close and delete the same file concurrently. In the worst case delete-on-close and pending-delete bits can be lost or observed in an inconsistent state, leading to confusing delete semantics (files that stay on disk after delete-on-close, or files that disappear while still in use). Fix it by: - Making ksmbd_query_inode_status() look at m_flags under ci->m_lock after dropping inode_hash_lock. - Adding ci->m_lock protection to all helpers that read or modify m_flags (ksmbd_inode_pending_delete(), ksmbd_set_inode_pending_delete(), ksmbd_clear_inode_pending_delete(), ksmbd_fd_set_delete_on_close()). - Keeping the existing ci->m_lock protection in __ksmbd_inode_close(), and moving the actual unlink/xattr removal outside the lock. This unifies the locking around m_flags and removes the data race while preserving the existing delete-on-close behaviour.
Title ksmbd: vfs: fix race on m_flags in vfs_cache
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

Subscriptions

Linux Linux Kernel
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-05-11T21:53:45.694Z

Reserved: 2025-12-24T10:30:51.047Z

Link: CVE-2025-68809

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Deferred

Published: 2026-01-13T16:16:03.080

Modified: 2026-04-15T00:35:42.020

Link: CVE-2025-68809

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Moderate

Publid Date: 2026-01-13T00:00:00Z

Links: CVE-2025-68809 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.

Weaknesses

No weakness.