CVE-2026-43068

CVE-2026-43068 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Linux Linux Kernel with a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-401.

Key facts

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: avoid allocate block from corrupted group in ext4_mb_find_by_goal() There's issue as follows: ... EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): Delayed block allocation failed for inode 206 at logical offset 0 with max blocks 1 with error 117 EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): This should not happen!! Data will be lost EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): Delayed block allocation failed for inode 206 at logical offset 0 with max blocks 1 with error 117 EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): This should not happen!! Data will be lost EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): Delayed block allocation failed for inode 206 at logical offset 0 with max blocks 1 with error 117 EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): This should not happen!! Data will be lost EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): Delayed block allocation failed for inode 206 at logical offset 0 with max blocks 1 with error 117 EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): This should not happen!! Data will be lost EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): Delayed block allocation failed for inode 2243 at logical offset 0 with max blocks 1 with error 117 EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): This should not happen!! Data will be lost EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): Delayed block allocation failed for inode 2239 at logical offset 0 with max blocks 1 with error 117 EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): This should not happen!! Data will be lost EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): error count since last fsck: 1 EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): initial error at time 1765597433: ext4_mb_generate_buddy:760 EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): last error at time 1765597433: ext4_mb_generate_buddy:760 ... According to the log analysis, blocks are always requested from the corrupted block group. This may happen as follows: ext4_mb_find_by_goal ext4_mb_load_buddy ext4_mb_load_buddy_gfp ext4_mb_init_cache ext4_read_block_bitmap_nowait ext4_wait_block_bitmap ext4_validate_block_bitmap if (!grp || EXT4_MB_GRP_BBITMAP_CORRUPT(grp)) return -EFSCORRUPTED; // There's no logs. if (err) return err; // Will return error ext4_lock_group(ac->ac_sb, group); if (unlikely(EXT4_MB_GRP_BBITMAP_CORRUPT(e4b->bd_info))) // Unreachable goto out; After commit 9008a58e5dce ("ext4: make the bitmap read routines return real error codes") merged, Commit 163a203ddb36 ("ext4: mark block group as corrupt on block bitmap error") is no real solution for allocating blocks from corrupted block groups. This is because if 'EXT4_MB_GRP_BBITMAP_CORRUPT(e4b->bd_info)' is true, then 'ext4_mb_load_buddy()' may return an error. This means that the block allocation will fail. Therefore, check block group if corrupted when ext4_mb_load_buddy() returns error.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2026-43068?
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: avoid allocate block from corrupted group in ext4_mb_find_by_goal() There's issue as follows: ... EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): Delayed block allocation failed for inode 206 at logical offset 0 with max blocks 1 with error 117 EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): This should not happen!! Data will be lost EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): Delayed block allocation failed for inode 206 at logical offset 0 with max blocks 1 with error 117 EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): This should not happen!! Data will be lost EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): Delayed block allocation failed for inode 206 at logical offset 0 with max blocks 1 with error 117 EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): This should not happen!! Data will be lost EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): Delayed block allocation failed for inode 206 at logical offset 0 with max blocks 1 with error 117 EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): This should not happen!! Data will be lost EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): Delayed block allocation failed for inode 2243 at logical offset 0 with max blocks 1 with error 117 EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): This should not happen!! Data will be lost EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): Delayed block allocation failed for inode 2239 at logical offset 0 with max blocks 1 with error 117 EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): This should not happen!! Data will be lost EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): error count since last fsck: 1 EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): initial error at time 1765597433: ext4_mb_generate_buddy:760 EXT4-fs (mmcblk0p1): last error at time 1765597433: ext4_mb_generate_buddy:760 ... According to the log analysis, blocks are always requested from the corrupted block group. This may happen as follows: ext4_mb_find_by_goal ext4_mb_load_buddy ext4_mb_load_buddy_gfp ext4_mb_init_cache ext4_read_block_bitmap_nowait ext4_wait_block_bitmap ext4_validate_block_bitmap if (!grp || EXT4_MB_GRP_BBITMAP_CORRUPT(grp)) return -EFSCORRUPTED; // There's no logs. if (err) return err; // Will return error ext4_lock_group(ac->ac_sb, group); if (unlikely(EXT4_MB_GRP_BBITMAP_CORRUPT(e4b->bd_info))) // Unreachable goto out; After commit 9008a58e5dce ("ext4: make the bitmap read routines return real error codes") merged, Commit 163a203ddb36 ("ext4: mark block group as corrupt on block bitmap error") is no real solution for allocating blocks from corrupted block groups. This is because if 'EXT4_MB_GRP_BBITMAP_CORRUPT(e4b->bd_info)' is true, then 'ext4_mb_load_buddy()' may return an error. This means that the block allocation will fail. Therefore, check block group if corrupted when ext4_mb_load_buddy() returns error.
How severe is CVE-2026-43068?
CVE-2026-43068 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.
Is CVE-2026-43068 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (2nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2026-43068?
CVE-2026-43068 primarily affects Linux Linux Kernel. In total, 8 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2026-43068?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
Does CVE-2026-43068 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
Yes. CVE-2026-43068 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2026-27370.
When was CVE-2026-43068 published?
CVE-2026-43068 was published on 2026-05-05 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (8)

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