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CVE Record

CVE-2024-50273: btrfs: reinitialize delayed ref list after deleting it from the list

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: reinitialize delayed ref list after deleting it from the list At insert_delayed_ref() if we need to update the action of an existing ref to BTRFS_DROP_DELAYED_REF, we delete the ref from its ref head's ref_add_list using list_del(), which leaves the ref's add_list member not reinitialized, as list_del() sets the next and prev members of the list to LIST_POISON1 and LIST_POISON2, respectively. If later we end up calling drop_delayed_ref() against the ref, which can happen during merging or when destroying delayed refs due to a transaction abort, we can trigger a crash since at drop_delayed_ref() we call list_empty() against the ref's add_list, which returns false since the list was not reinitialized after the list_del() and as a consequence we call list_del() again at drop_delayed_ref(). This results in an invalid list access since the next and prev members are set to poison pointers, resulting in a splat if CONFIG_LIST_HARDENED and CONFIG_DEBUG_LIST are set or invalid poison pointer dereferences otherwise. So fix this by deleting from the list with list_del_init() instead.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux btrfs bookkeeping error can make the kernel process an already-deleted list entry, causing invalid memory access and potentially crashing the system. Exploitation requires local access and relevant btrfs activity. Systems not using btrfs are less likely to reach the vulnerable code, although installed kernel exposure still requires verification.

Executive priority

Prioritize internet-facing, multi-user, or shared-compute Linux systems using btrfs because local low-privileged access may lead to kernel failure. Treat isolated systems without btrfs use as lower operational urgency, but still verify package status. Coordinate remediation through normal kernel maintenance and reboot procedures.

Technical view

When an existing delayed reference changes to BTRFS_DROP_DELAYED_REF, list_del() leaves poisoned pointers in add_list. A later drop_delayed_ref() can treat that node as linked and delete it again, producing invalid pointer access. The upstream correction uses list_del_init() so the node is reinitialized after removal.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most plausible on systems running an affected Linux kernel and exercising btrfs delayed-reference processing, including transaction merging or abort handling. The bundle identifies affected upstream releases through 6.12, but distribution kernels commonly backport fixes; determine exposure from the running package and vendor records rather than version strings alone.

Exploitation context

CVSS 3.1 scores this 7.8 with local access, low privileges, low complexity, and no user interaction. The supplied evidence describes a kernel crash or invalid pointer dereference but provides no exploit demonstration. The CVE is not listed as KEV in the bundle, and active exploitation is not established.

Researcher notes

The failure is a delayed-reference list lifecycle error consistent with CWE-908: list_del() poisons links without restoring an empty-list state. Subsequent list_empty() and list_del() handling can dereference poison pointers. Debug or list-hardening configurations produce a diagnostic splat; other configurations may encounter invalid dereferences. The sources do not establish reliable code execution or exploitation in the wild.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a vendor-supported kernel package containing the applicable upstream stable fix.
  • Reboot affected systems into the corrected kernel after installation.
  • Consult distribution guidance to confirm which kernel package includes the backport.
  • Until updated, restrict untrusted local access to btrfs hosts and monitor kernel faults.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernel builds and identify systems mounting or actively using btrfs.
  • Map distribution kernel packages to vendor advisories or changelogs instead of relying only on upstream versions.
  • Confirm the applicable fix commit or vendor backport is present.
  • After rebooting, verify the corrected kernel is running and review logs for related list or btrfs faults.
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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cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-908: Exact CWE lookup

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2024-50273 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.

2CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
2ADP providers
11Source links

SSVC decision data

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

CVSS vector scores

2 official scores

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
5.5CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H1.83.6CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2024-50273Attack 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
cvssV3_1other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux1d57ee941692d0cc928526e21a1557b2ae3e11db, 1d57ee941692d0cc928526e21a1557b2ae3e11db, 1d57ee941692d0cc928526e21a1557b2ae3e11db, 1d57ee941692d0cc928526e21a1557b2ae3e11db, 1d57ee941692d0cc928526e21a1557b2ae3e11db, 1d57ee941692d0cc928526e21a1557b2ae3e11db, 1d57ee941692d0cc928526e21a1557b2ae3e11db, 1d57ee941692d0cc928526e21a1557b2ae3e11dbunaffected
LinuxLinux4.10, 0, 4.19.324, 5.4.286, 5.10.230, 5.15.172, 6.1.117, 6.6.61, 6.11.8, 6.12affected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-908 · source CWE mapping

Use of Uninitialized Resource

Use of Uninitialized Resource represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.