CVE-2026-89786

What it is

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: fix out-of-bounds read in ext4_read_inline_dir() ext4_read_inline_dir() can read a dirent header past the end of its inline buffer, triggering a slab-out-of-bounds read during getdents64(): BUG: KASAN: slab-out-of-bounds in __ext4_check_dir_entry Read of size 2 at addr ffff88800f3dd23c by task exploit/148 ... __ext4_check_dir_entry ext4_read_inline_dir iterate_dir The dirent payload lives in a buffer of exactly inline_size bytes: dir_buf = kmalloc(inline_size, GFP_NOFS); but iteration runs in a position space extra_offset bytes larger (extra_size = extra_offset + inline_size) so the synthetic "." and ".." land at their block-dir offsets. A dirent is formed at "dir_buf + pos - extra_offset", yet the ext4_check_dir_entry() length argument uses the larger extra_size. A position whose dirent header would extend past extra_size is therefore accepted, and the rescan loop's rec_len probe and ext4_check_dir_entry() dereference de->rec_len before the entry is rejected. Reject a position whose minimum-size dirent header would not fit within extra_size before forming de, in both the rescan and main loops, and pass inline_size rather than extra_size to ext4_check_dir_entry() so the length check matches the physical buffer.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited over the network without logging in. High risk of data exposure, service disruption.

Exploit odds

0.7% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

No patch or advisory is linked yet. Look at mitigations or restrict exposure.

Timeline

1. 2026-09-16 09:17 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-10-19 09:18 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Details

Published

2026-09-16 09:17 UTC

Last modified

2026-10-19 09:18 UTC

Exploit probability

0.7% · EPSS, next 30 days

Record status

Received

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 9.1

Attack vector

Network

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

None

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

None

Availability

High