CVE-2023-52933: Squashfs: fix handling and sanity checking of xattr_ids count
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
Squashfs: fix handling and sanity checking of xattr_ids count
A Sysbot [1] corrupted filesystem exposes two flaws in the handling and
sanity checking of the xattr_ids count in the filesystem. Both of these
flaws cause computation overflow due to incorrect typing.
In the corrupted filesystem the xattr_ids value is 4294967071, which
stored in a signed variable becomes the negative number -225.
Flaw 1 (64-bit systems only):
The signed integer xattr_ids variable causes sign extension.
This causes variable overflow in the SQUASHFS_XATTR_*(A) macros. The
variable is first multiplied by sizeof(struct squashfs_xattr_id) where the
type of the sizeof operator is "unsigned long".
On a 64-bit system this is 64-bits in size, and causes the negative number
to be sign extended and widened to 64-bits and then become unsigned. This
produces the very large number 18446744073709548016 or 2^64 - 3600. This
number when rounded up by SQUASHFS_METADATA_SIZE - 1 (8191 bytes) and
divided by SQUASHFS_METADATA_SIZE overflows and produces a length of 0
(stored in len).
Flaw 2 (32-bit systems only):
On a 32-bit system the integer variable is not widened by the unsigned
long type of the sizeof operator (32-bits), and the signedness of the
variable has no effect due it always being treated as unsigned.
The above corrupted xattr_ids value of 4294967071, when multiplied
overflows and produces the number 4294963696 or 2^32 - 3400. This number
when rounded up by SQUASHFS_METADATA_SIZE - 1 (8191 bytes) and divided by
SQUASHFS_METADATA_SIZE overflows again and produces a length of 0.
The effect of the 0 length computation:
In conjunction with the corrupted xattr_ids field, the filesystem also has
a corrupted xattr_table_start value, where it matches the end of
filesystem value of 850.
This causes the following sanity check code to fail because the
incorrectly computed len of 0 matches the incorrect size of the table
reported by the superblock (0 bytes).
len = SQUASHFS_XATTR_BLOCK_BYTES(*xattr_ids);
indexes = SQUASHFS_XATTR_BLOCKS(*xattr_ids);
/*
* The computed size of the index table (len bytes) should exactly
* match the table start and end points
*/
start = table_start + sizeof(*id_table);
end = msblk->bytes_used;
if (len != (end - start))
return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
Changing the xattr_ids variable to be "usigned int" fixes the flaw on a
64-bit system. This relies on the fact the computation is widened by the
unsigned long type of the sizeof operator.
Casting the variable to u64 in the above macro fixes this flaw on a 32-bit
system.
It also means 64-bit systems do not implicitly rely on the type of the
sizeof operator to widen the computation.
[1] https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/000000000000cd44f005f1a0f17f@google.com/
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This Linux kernel Squashfs bug affects how malformed extended-attribute metadata is counted and checked. A corrupted Squashfs filesystem can trigger integer overflow and make a bad table size appear valid. Business urgency depends on whether affected systems mount untrusted or corrupted Squashfs images.
Executive priority
Treat as exposure-dependent. Prioritize remediation for systems that handle externally sourced Squashfs images; otherwise track through normal kernel patching. There is no source evidence here of active exploitation.
Technical view
Squashfs stores xattr_ids from filesystem metadata. The vulnerable code used incorrect integer typing, causing overflow differently on 64-bit and 32-bit systems. The computed xattr index table length can become zero, allowing a corrupted superblock table boundary check to pass incorrectly.
Likely exposure
Exposure is mainly Linux systems running affected kernel builds that process Squashfs filesystems. Prioritize systems mounting user-supplied, downloaded, removable, or update-package images. Systems that do not mount Squashfs images have lower practical exposure.
Exploitation context
The source describes a Sysbot corrupted filesystem trigger and kernel fix details. The bundle does not provide CVSS, CWE, exploit impact, public exploit status, or active exploitation evidence. KEV is false, so active exploitation should not be assumed.
Researcher notes
Focus analysis on Squashfs xattr table parsing and xattr_ids handling. The fix changes xattr_ids typing and casts macro calculations to u64. Impact beyond failed sanity checking is not stated in the provided sources.
Mitigation direction
Apply Linux stable kernel fixes or equivalent distribution kernel updates.
Check vendor or distribution advisories for fixed kernel packages.
Restrict mounting of untrusted Squashfs images where operationally possible.
Review image ingestion and update workflows that process Squashfs filesystems.
Validation and detection
Inventory Linux kernel versions against vendor advisories and referenced stable commits.
Identify hosts or services that mount Squashfs images.
Confirm whether Squashfs images can be supplied by users or external parties.
Verify updated kernels include the Squashfs xattr_ids type and u64 calculation fixes.
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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Mar 27, 2025, 16:37 UTC (UTC+00:00)
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