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CVE-2026-53368

HIGH 7.1

Published 2026-07-19 · Last modified 2026-07-20

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: f2fs: fix fsck inconsistency caused by incorrect nat_entry flag usage f2fs_need_dentry_mark() reads nat_entry flags without mutual exclusion with the checkpoint path, which can result in an incorrect inode block marking state. The scenario is as follows: create & write & fsync 'file A' write checkpoint - f2fs_do_sync_file // inline inode - f2fs_write_inode // inode folio is dirty - f2fs_write_checkpoint - f2fs_flush_merged_writes - f2fs_sync_node_pages - f2fs_fsync_node_pages // no dirty node - f2fs_need_inode_block_update // return true - f2fs_fsync_node_pages // inode dirtied - f2fs_need_dentry_mark //return true - f2fs_flush_nat_entries - f2fs_write_checkpoint end - __write_node_folio // inode with DENT_BIT_SHIFT set SPO, "fsck --dry-run" find inode has already checkpointed but still with DENT_BIT_SHIFT set The state observed by f2fs_need_dentry_mark() can differ from the state observed in __write_node_folio() after acquiring sbi->node_write. The root cause is that the semantics of IS_CHECKPOINTED and HAS_FSYNCED_INODE are only guaranteed after the checkpoint write has fully completed. This patch moves set_dentry_mark() into __write_node_folio() and protects it with the sbi->node_write lock.

ELEVATED IMPACT

Severe if exploited (CVSS 7.1), but no known exploitation and low modeled probability. Patch on a normal cadence.

Exploitation likelihood

0.1%chance of exploitation in 30 days · 3rd percentile

○ In CISA KEV ○ Public exploit / PoC

Impact if exploited

7.1CVSS 3.1 · HIGH

  • ConfidentialityNone
  • IntegrityHigh
  • AvailabilityHigh

What an attacker needs

  • ⚠Access: Requires local access to the host
  • ⚠Privileges: Requires a low-privilege account
  • ✓User interaction: No user interaction needed
  • ✓Complexity: No special conditions — reliably repeatable

✓ lowers the bar for an attacker · ⚠ raises it

Proof of concept & exploit code

Test against your own equipment

curl -s https://vulnpedia.com/cve/CVE-2026-53368/poc.jsonMachine-readable PoC index for this CVE (for automation).

Listed for defensive triage, patch verification, and authorized testing on systems you own. Machine-readable: /cve/CVE-2026-53368/poc.json

Affected

Vendors Linux

Products Linux

Weakness (CWE)

Not classified.

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H

All CVSS metrics

  • HIGH 7.1 v3.1 · CNA Primary
    CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
  • HIGH 7.1 v3.1 · NVD Secondary
    CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H

References

Technical & other

Sources: NVD · CVE.org · EPSS