CVE-2023-54253: btrfs: set page extent mapped after read_folio in relocate_one_page
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
btrfs: set page extent mapped after read_folio in relocate_one_page
One of the CI runs triggered the following panic
assertion failed: PagePrivate(page) && page->private, in fs/btrfs/subpage.c:229
------------[ cut here ]------------
kernel BUG at fs/btrfs/subpage.c:229!
Internal error: Oops - BUG: 00000000f2000800 [#1] SMP
CPU: 0 PID: 923660 Comm: btrfs Not tainted 6.5.0-rc3+ #1
pstate: 61400005 (nZCv daif +PAN -UAO -TCO +DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--)
pc : btrfs_subpage_assert+0xbc/0xf0
lr : btrfs_subpage_assert+0xbc/0xf0
sp : ffff800093213720
x29: ffff800093213720 x28: ffff8000932138b4 x27: 000000000c280000
x26: 00000001b5d00000 x25: 000000000c281000 x24: 000000000c281fff
x23: 0000000000001000 x22: 0000000000000000 x21: ffffff42b95bf880
x20: ffff42b9528e0000 x19: 0000000000001000 x18: ffffffffffffffff
x17: 667274622f736620 x16: 6e69202c65746176 x15: 0000000000000028
x14: 0000000000000003 x13: 00000000002672d7 x12: 0000000000000000
x11: ffffcd3f0ccd9204 x10: ffffcd3f0554ae50 x9 : ffffcd3f0379528c
x8 : ffff800093213428 x7 : 0000000000000000 x6 : ffffcd3f091771e8
x5 : ffff42b97f333948 x4 : 0000000000000000 x3 : 0000000000000000
x2 : 0000000000000000 x1 : ffff42b9556cde80 x0 : 000000000000004f
Call trace:
btrfs_subpage_assert+0xbc/0xf0
btrfs_subpage_set_dirty+0x38/0xa0
btrfs_page_set_dirty+0x58/0x88
relocate_one_page+0x204/0x5f0
relocate_file_extent_cluster+0x11c/0x180
relocate_data_extent+0xd0/0xf8
relocate_block_group+0x3d0/0x4e8
btrfs_relocate_block_group+0x2d8/0x490
btrfs_relocate_chunk+0x54/0x1a8
btrfs_balance+0x7f4/0x1150
btrfs_ioctl+0x10f0/0x20b8
__arm64_sys_ioctl+0x120/0x11d8
invoke_syscall.constprop.0+0x80/0xd8
do_el0_svc+0x6c/0x158
el0_svc+0x50/0x1b0
el0t_64_sync_handler+0x120/0x130
el0t_64_sync+0x194/0x198
Code: 91098021 b0007fa0 91346000 97e9c6d2 (d4210000)
This is the same problem outlined in 17b17fcd6d44 ("btrfs:
set_page_extent_mapped after read_folio in btrfs_cont_expand") , and the
fix is the same. I originally looked for the same pattern elsewhere in
our code, but mistakenly skipped over this code because I saw the page
cache readahead before we set_page_extent_mapped, not realizing that
this was only in the !page case, that we can still end up with a
!uptodate page and then do the btrfs_read_folio further down.
The fix here is the same as the above mentioned patch, move the
set_page_extent_mapped call to after the btrfs_read_folio() block to
make sure that we have the subpage blocksize stuff setup properly before
using the page.
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a Linux kernel Btrfs bug that can trigger a kernel panic during Btrfs relocation or balance activity. The public bundle does not show data theft, privilege escalation, CVSS scoring, or active exploitation. Business impact is primarily availability risk for systems using affected Linux kernels with Btrfs.
Executive priority
Treat as a targeted availability risk, not a broad emergency from the current evidence. Patch through normal kernel maintenance, accelerating for production Btrfs storage systems where an unexpected panic would cause service disruption.
Technical view
In Btrfs relocate_one_page, set_page_extent_mapped was called before btrfs_read_folio completed setup for subpage blocksize state. Under the described path, this could violate PagePrivate assertions and hit a kernel BUG/Oops during relocation. The fix moves set_page_extent_mapped after the btrfs_read_folio block.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions or commits with Btrfs in use, especially where Btrfs balance or relocation operations occur. The bundle lists Linux kernel versions including 5.12, 6.1.54, 6.5.4, and 6.6 as affected, but distribution backport status must be verified.
Exploitation context
CISA KEV is false, and the provided sources do not cite active exploitation or a public exploit. The evidence describes a CI-triggered kernel panic in a Btrfs ioctl balance path. Preconditions, attacker control, and privilege requirements are not fully established in the bundle.
Researcher notes
The source record is sparse: no CVSS, CWE, exploitability analysis, or distro-specific package matrix. The strongest evidence is the kernel fix narrative and stack trace showing a Btrfs relocation panic. Avoid extrapolating beyond Btrfs subpage/page-state handling and availability impact.
Mitigation direction
Update to a kernel build containing the referenced stable Btrfs fixes.
Check distribution advisories for backported fixes before judging version strings alone.
Prioritize systems using Btrfs for production or storage-heavy workloads.
If patching is delayed, review vendor guidance for operational workarounds.
Validation and detection
Inventory Linux kernel versions and identify hosts using Btrfs filesystems.
Confirm whether vendor kernel packages include the referenced stable commits.
Review logs for Btrfs balance, relocation, kernel BUG, or Oops events.
Test patched kernels in staging with representative Btrfs maintenance operations.
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Potential ATT&CK relevance
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CVE reservedCVE Program
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CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
Dec 30, 2025, 12:15 UTC (UTC+00:00)
CVE updatedCVE Program
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