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CVE Record

CVE-2024-49882: ext4: fix double brelse() the buffer of the extents path

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: fix double brelse() the buffer of the extents path In ext4_ext_try_to_merge_up(), set path[1].p_bh to NULL after it has been released, otherwise it may be released twice. An example of what triggers this is as follows: split2 map split1 |--------|-------|--------| ext4_ext_map_blocks ext4_ext_handle_unwritten_extents ext4_split_convert_extents // path->p_depth == 0 ext4_split_extent // 1. do split1 ext4_split_extent_at |ext4_ext_insert_extent | ext4_ext_create_new_leaf | ext4_ext_grow_indepth | le16_add_cpu(&neh->eh_depth, 1) | ext4_find_extent | // return -ENOMEM |// get error and try zeroout |path = ext4_find_extent | path->p_depth = 1 |ext4_ext_try_to_merge | ext4_ext_try_to_merge_up | path->p_depth = 0 | brelse(path[1].p_bh) ---> not set to NULL here |// zeroout success // 2. update path ext4_find_extent // 3. do split2 ext4_split_extent_at ext4_ext_insert_extent ext4_ext_create_new_leaf ext4_ext_grow_indepth le16_add_cpu(&neh->eh_depth, 1) ext4_find_extent path[0].p_bh = NULL; path->p_depth = 1 read_extent_tree_block ---> return err // path[1].p_bh is still the old value ext4_free_ext_path ext4_ext_drop_refs // path->p_depth == 1 brelse(path[1].p_bh) ---> brelse a buffer twice Finally got the following WARRNING when removing the buffer from lru: ============================================ VFS: brelse: Trying to free free buffer WARNING: CPU: 2 PID: 72 at fs/buffer.c:1241 __brelse+0x58/0x90 CPU: 2 PID: 72 Comm: kworker/u19:1 Not tainted 6.9.0-dirty #716 RIP: 0010:__brelse+0x58/0x90 Call Trace: <TASK> __find_get_block+0x6e7/0x810 bdev_getblk+0x2b/0x480 __ext4_get_inode_loc+0x48a/0x1240 ext4_get_inode_loc+0xb2/0x150 ext4_reserve_inode_write+0xb7/0x230 __ext4_mark_inode_dirty+0x144/0x6a0 ext4_ext_insert_extent+0x9c8/0x3230 ext4_ext_map_blocks+0xf45/0x2dc0 ext4_map_blocks+0x724/0x1700 ext4_do_writepages+0x12d6/0x2a70 [...] ============================================

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux ext4 filesystem bug can release the same buffer twice during a specific error-recovery path. This may destabilize the kernel and potentially affect system security. Exploitation requires local access according to the supplied CVSS vector; the sources do not establish remote reachability or successful real-world attacks.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority kernel maintenance issue, especially on multi-user or workload-hosting Linux systems using ext4. Patch through normal expedited kernel processes. The sources do not justify an emergency incident declaration because active exploitation and a practical attack chain are not established.

Technical view

During ext4 extent splitting and merge-up handling, ext4_ext_try_to_merge_up() released path[1].p_bh without clearing the pointer. A later extent-tree read failure could pass that stale pointer to ext4_ext_drop_refs(), causing a second brelse(). The kernel fix sets the pointer to NULL after its first release.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to Linux systems running an affected kernel and using ext4. The demonstrated path involves filesystem writes, extent manipulation, and specific allocation or block-read failures. The supplied affected-version data is ambiguous, so organizations should confirm exposure through their distribution's kernel advisories and fix backports.

Exploitation context

The supplied CVSS 3.1 score is 7.8, with local access and low privileges required. The bundle marks this CVE as absent from KEV and provides no evidence of active exploitation, a public proof of concept, or reliable privilege escalation. The demonstrated result is a kernel warning from double buffer release.

Researcher notes

The supplied trace depends on a complex sequence involving extent splitting, merge-up, allocation failure, zeroout recovery, and a later block-read error. The evidence demonstrates stale buffer-pointer reuse and a double release. It does not establish resulting code execution, confidentiality loss, filesystem corruption, or exploit reliability despite the CVSS impact ratings.

Mitigation direction

  • Install a vendor-supported kernel containing the applicable stable fix or distribution backport.
  • Reboot affected systems so the corrected kernel is actively running.
  • Consult distribution advisories when package versions do not match upstream kernel versions.
  • Prioritize shared systems where untrusted local users or workloads can write to ext4 filesystems.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernel versions and identify systems with ext4 filesystems mounted.
  • Verify vendor changelogs or advisories confirm inclusion of the relevant upstream fix.
  • After updating and rebooting, confirm the running kernel matches the patched package.
  • Review kernel logs for "VFS: brelse: Trying to free free buffer" warnings.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
6

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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ATT&CK lookup starting points

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CVE-2024-49882 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
2ADP providers
12Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2024-49882Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxecb94f5fdf4b72547fca022421a9dca1672bddd4, ecb94f5fdf4b72547fca022421a9dca1672bddd4, ecb94f5fdf4b72547fca022421a9dca1672bddd4, ecb94f5fdf4b72547fca022421a9dca1672bddd4, ecb94f5fdf4b72547fca022421a9dca1672bddd4, ecb94f5fdf4b72547fca022421a9dca1672bddd4, ecb94f5fdf4b72547fca022421a9dca1672bddd4, ecb94f5fdf4b72547fca022421a9dca1672bddd4, ecb94f5fdf4b72547fca022421a9dca1672bddd4unaffected
LinuxLinux3.7, 0, 4.19.323, 5.4.285, 5.10.227, 5.15.168, 6.1.113, 6.6.55, 6.10.14, 6.11.3, 6.12affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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