CVE-2026-43299

What it is

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: do not ASSERT() when the fs flips RO inside btrfs_repair_io_failure() [BUG] There is a bug report that when btrfs hits ENOSPC error in a critical path, btrfs flips RO (this part is expected, although the ENOSPC bug still needs to be addressed). The problem is after the RO flip, if there is a read repair pending, we can hit the ASSERT() inside btrfs_repair_io_failure() like the following: BTRFS info (device vdc): relocating block group 30408704 flags metadata|raid1 ------------[ cut here ]------------ BTRFS: Transaction aborted (error -28) WARNING: fs/btrfs/extent-tree.c:3235 at __btrfs_free_extent.isra.0+0x453/0xfd0, CPU#1: btrfs/383844 Modules linked in: kvm_intel kvm irqbypass [...] ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]--- BTRFS info (device vdc state EA): 2 enospc errors during balance BTRFS info (device vdc state EA): balance: ended with status: -30 BTRFS error (device vdc state EA): parent transid verify failed on logical 30556160 mirror 2 wanted 8 found 6 BTRFS error (device vdc state EA): bdev /dev/nvme0n1 errs: wr 0, rd 0, flush 0, corrupt 10, gen 0 [...] assertion failed: !(fs_info->sb->s_flags & SB_RDONLY) :: 0, in fs/btrfs/bio.c:938 ------------[ cut here ]------------ assertion failed: !(fs_info->sb->s_flags & SB_RDONLY) :: 0, in fs/btrfs/bio.c:938 kernel BUG at fs/btrfs/bio.c:938! Oops: invalid opcode: 0000 [#1] SMP NOPTI CPU: 0 UID: 0 PID: 868 Comm: kworker/u8:13 Tainted: G W N 6.19.0-rc6+ #4788 PREEMPT(full) Tainted: [W]=WARN, [N]=TEST Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009), BIOS rel-1.17.0-0-gb52ca86e094d-prebuilt.qemu.org 04/01/2014 Workqueue: btrfs-endio simple_end_io_work RIP: 0010:btrfs_repair_io_failure.cold+0xb2/0x120 RSP: 0000:ffffc90001d2bcf0 EFLAGS: 00010246 RAX: 0000000000000051 RBX: 0000000000001000 RCX: 0000000000000000 RDX: 0000000000000000 RSI: ffffffff8305cf42 RDI: 00000000ffffffff RBP: 0000000000000002 R08: 00000000fffeffff R09: ffffffff837fa988 R10: ffffffff8327a9e0 R11: 6f69747265737361 R12: ffff88813018d310 R13: ffff888168b8a000 R14: ffffc90001d2bd90 R15: ffff88810a169000 FS: 0000000000000000(0000) GS:ffff8885e752c000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 ------------[ cut here ]------------ [CAUSE] The cause of -ENOSPC error during the test case btrfs/124 is still unknown, although it's known that we still have cases where metadata can be over-committed but can not be fulfilled correctly, thus if we hit such ENOSPC error inside a critical path, we have no choice but abort the current transaction. This will mark the fs read-only. The problem is inside the btrfs_repair_io_failure() path that we require the fs not to be mount read-only. This is normally fine, but if we are doing a read-repair meanwhile the fs flips RO due to a critical error, we can enter btrfs_repair_io_failure() with super block set to read-only, thus triggering the above crash. [FIX] Just replace the ASSERT() with a proper return if the fs is already read-only.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. High risk of service disruption.

Exploit odds

0.1% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2026-05-08 14:16 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-10-30 13:18 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 0.1% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 5.5 MEDIUM (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2026-05-08 14:16 UTC

Last modified

2026-10-30 13:18 UTC

Exploit probability

0.1% · EPSS, next 30 days

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Linux Kernel < 6.19.6

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 5.5

Attack vector

Local

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

Low

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

None

Integrity

None

Availability

High

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

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