CVE-2023-54002: btrfs: fix assertion of exclop condition when starting balance
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
btrfs: fix assertion of exclop condition when starting balance
Balance as exclusive state is compatible with paused balance and device
add, which makes some things more complicated. The assertion of valid
states when starting from paused balance needs to take into account two
more states, the combinations can be hit when there are several threads
racing to start balance and device add. This won't typically happen when
the commands are started from command line.
Scenario 1: With exclusive_operation state == BTRFS_EXCLOP_NONE.
Concurrently adding multiple devices to the same mount point and
btrfs_exclop_finish executed finishes before assertion in
btrfs_exclop_balance, exclusive_operation will changed to
BTRFS_EXCLOP_NONE state which lead to assertion failed:
fs_info->exclusive_operation == BTRFS_EXCLOP_BALANCE ||
fs_info->exclusive_operation == BTRFS_EXCLOP_DEV_ADD,
in fs/btrfs/ioctl.c:456
Call Trace:
<TASK>
btrfs_exclop_balance+0x13c/0x310
? memdup_user+0xab/0xc0
? PTR_ERR+0x17/0x20
btrfs_ioctl_add_dev+0x2ee/0x320
btrfs_ioctl+0x9d5/0x10d0
? btrfs_ioctl_encoded_write+0xb80/0xb80
__x64_sys_ioctl+0x197/0x210
do_syscall_64+0x3c/0xb0
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x63/0xcd
Scenario 2: With exclusive_operation state == BTRFS_EXCLOP_BALANCE_PAUSED.
Concurrently adding multiple devices to the same mount point and
btrfs_exclop_balance executed finish before the latter thread execute
assertion in btrfs_exclop_balance, exclusive_operation will changed to
BTRFS_EXCLOP_BALANCE_PAUSED state which lead to assertion failed:
fs_info->exclusive_operation == BTRFS_EXCLOP_BALANCE ||
fs_info->exclusive_operation == BTRFS_EXCLOP_DEV_ADD ||
fs_info->exclusive_operation == BTRFS_EXCLOP_NONE,
fs/btrfs/ioctl.c:458
Call Trace:
<TASK>
btrfs_exclop_balance+0x240/0x410
? memdup_user+0xab/0xc0
? PTR_ERR+0x17/0x20
btrfs_ioctl_add_dev+0x2ee/0x320
btrfs_ioctl+0x9d5/0x10d0
? btrfs_ioctl_encoded_write+0xb80/0xb80
__x64_sys_ioctl+0x197/0x210
do_syscall_64+0x3c/0xb0
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x63/0xcd
An example of the failed assertion is below, which shows that the
paused balance is also needed to be checked.
root@syzkaller:/home/xsk# ./repro
Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14
Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14
Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14
Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14
Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14
Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14
Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14
Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14
Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14
[ 416.611428][ T7970] BTRFS info (device loop0): fs_info exclusive_operation: 0
Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14
[ 416.613973][ T7971] BTRFS info (device loop0): fs_info exclusive_operation: 3
Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14
[ 416.615456][ T7972] BTRFS info (device loop0): fs_info exclusive_operation: 3
Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14
[ 416.617528][ T7973] BTRFS info (device loop0): fs_info exclusive_operation: 3
Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14
[ 416.618359][ T7974] BTRFS info (device loop0): fs_info exclusive_operation: 3
Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14
[ 416.622589][ T7975] BTRFS info (device loop0): fs_info exclusive_operation: 3
Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14
[ 416.624034][ T7976] BTRFS info (device loop0): fs_info exclusive_operation: 3
Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14
[ 416.626420][ T7977] BTRFS info (device loop0): fs_info exclusive_operation: 3
Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14
[ 416.627643][ T7978] BTRFS info (device loop0): fs_info exclusive_operation: 3
Failed to add device /dev/vda, errno 14
[ 416.629006][ T7979] BTRFS info (device loop0): fs_info exclusive_operation: 3
[ 416.630298][ T7980] BTRFS info (device loop0): fs_info exclusive_operation: 3
Fai
---truncated---
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2023-54002 is a Linux kernel Btrfs race condition. Under unusual concurrent Btrfs device-add and balance activity, the kernel can hit an internal assertion failure. The source describes reliability impact, not data theft or remote compromise.
Executive priority
Treat as a targeted reliability issue for Btrfs hosts, not a broad emergency. Prioritize patching on infrastructure using Btrfs with automated storage management or frequent device operations.
Technical view
The bug is in Btrfs exclusive-operation state handling when starting balance. Races among multiple threads adding devices and balance state transitions can leave exclusive_operation as NONE or BALANCE_PAUSED when assertions expect other states, causing assertion failures in btrfs_exclop_balance via ioctl paths.
Likely exposure
Exposure appears limited to Linux systems using Btrfs where Btrfs administrative operations such as device add and balance can run concurrently. The CVE record lists Linux kernel versions including 5.17, 6.1.29, 6.2.16, 6.3.3, and 6.4 as affected.
Exploitation context
The bundle does not report active exploitation, and KEV is false. The described scenario comes from concurrent local Btrfs operations and notes it will not typically happen when commands are started from the command line.
Researcher notes
The source evidence supports a race-triggered assertion failure in fs/btrfs/ioctl.c. Severity, CVSS, CWE, privilege requirements, and exploitability beyond the described concurrent operation scenario are not provided in the bundle.
Mitigation direction
Update to a Linux kernel containing the referenced Btrfs stable fixes.
Check distribution advisories for the exact fixed kernel package.
Limit Btrfs device-add and balance operations to trusted administrative workflows.
Avoid concurrent Btrfs device-add and balance automation until patched.
Validation and detection
Inventory systems using Btrfs filesystems.
Map running kernel versions to vendor fixed packages or referenced stable commits.
Review kernel logs for Btrfs assertion failures around device add or balance.
Check automation for concurrent Btrfs device management operations.
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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Dec 24, 2025, 10:55 UTC (UTC+00:00)
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