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CVE-2026-98941

Linux: ext4: don't enable large folios on encrypted inodes

Linux LinuxOperating systems
Open in ThreatlineRecord JSON
CVSS
NoneNot scored
ExploitationNo known exploitationNot in CISA KEV, which does not prove it is unexploitedCISA KEV
Exploit odds (EPSS)No scoreNo FIRST EPSS score in this snapshot yet
Fixed in40554d1221e3d2ff2e0d192b74a05d89eb3620e7Fixed versionCVE List
Published23 Oct 2026Updated 23 Oct 2026CVE List

What fixes it

  • 40554d1221e3d2ff2e0d192b74a05d89eb3620e7LinuxCVE List

A fixed version on one release line is not the upgrade target for every line. Check your exact version and any vendor backports.

Description

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

ext4: don't enable large folios on encrypted inodes

Commit 709f0f1f1bf5 ("ext4: add checks for large folio incompatibilities when BS > PS") disables large folios at mount time if the "encrypt" feature is set. However, enabling that feature on a mounted filesystem circumvents that check, and writing encrypted data results in a crash:

BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000028 Workqueue: ext4-rsv-conversion ext4_end_io_rsv_work RIP: 0010:ext4_finish_bio+0xf7/0x3e0 Call Trace: ext4_release_io_end+0x51/0x110 ext4_end_io_end+0x4c/0xe0 ext4_end_io_rsv_work+0xb3/0x100

Fix this by disabling large folios on encrypted inodes, as is already done for inodes that use data journaling.

This affects all kernels between v6.19 and v7.2, but it is not needed in v7.3, where the code was significantly refactored.

Text from CVE List

Affected versions 4

  • Linuxaffected: 709f0f1f1bf5ca62a000084e5446ca6b57c8678c before 40554d1221e3d2ff2e0d192b74a05d89eb3620e7CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 6.19CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: all versions before 6.19CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 7.2.10 through 7.2.*CVE List

References 1