CVE-2024-56758: btrfs: check folio mapping after unlock in relocate_one_folio()
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
btrfs: check folio mapping after unlock in relocate_one_folio()
When we call btrfs_read_folio() to bring a folio uptodate, we unlock the
folio. The result of that is that a different thread can modify the
mapping (like remove it with invalidate) before we call folio_lock().
This results in an invalid page and we need to try again.
In particular, if we are relocating concurrently with aborting a
transaction, this can result in a crash like the following:
BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000000
PGD 0 P4D 0
Oops: 0000 [#1] SMP
CPU: 76 PID: 1411631 Comm: kworker/u322:5
Workqueue: events_unbound btrfs_reclaim_bgs_work
RIP: 0010:set_page_extent_mapped+0x20/0xb0
RSP: 0018:ffffc900516a7be8 EFLAGS: 00010246
RAX: ffffea009e851d08 RBX: ffffea009e0b1880 RCX: 0000000000000000
RDX: 0000000000000000 RSI: ffffc900516a7b90 RDI: ffffea009e0b1880
RBP: 0000000003573000 R08: 0000000000000001 R09: ffff88c07fd2f3f0
R10: 0000000000000000 R11: 0000194754b575be R12: 0000000003572000
R13: 0000000003572fff R14: 0000000000100cca R15: 0000000005582fff
FS: 0000000000000000(0000) GS:ffff88c07fd00000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000
CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033
CR2: 0000000000000000 CR3: 000000407d00f002 CR4: 00000000007706f0
DR0: 0000000000000000 DR1: 0000000000000000 DR2: 0000000000000000
DR3: 0000000000000000 DR6: 00000000fffe0ff0 DR7: 0000000000000400
PKRU: 55555554
Call Trace:
<TASK>
? __die+0x78/0xc0
? page_fault_oops+0x2a8/0x3a0
? __switch_to+0x133/0x530
? wq_worker_running+0xa/0x40
? exc_page_fault+0x63/0x130
? asm_exc_page_fault+0x22/0x30
? set_page_extent_mapped+0x20/0xb0
relocate_file_extent_cluster+0x1a7/0x940
relocate_data_extent+0xaf/0x120
relocate_block_group+0x20f/0x480
btrfs_relocate_block_group+0x152/0x320
btrfs_relocate_chunk+0x3d/0x120
btrfs_reclaim_bgs_work+0x2ae/0x4e0
process_scheduled_works+0x184/0x370
worker_thread+0xc6/0x3e0
? blk_add_timer+0xb0/0xb0
kthread+0xae/0xe0
? flush_tlb_kernel_range+0x90/0x90
ret_from_fork+0x2f/0x40
? flush_tlb_kernel_range+0x90/0x90
ret_from_fork_asm+0x11/0x20
</TASK>
This occurs because cleanup_one_transaction() calls
destroy_delalloc_inodes() which calls invalidate_inode_pages2() which
takes the folio_lock before setting mapping to NULL. We fail to check
this, and subsequently call set_extent_mapping(), which assumes that
mapping != NULL (in fact it asserts that in debug mode)
Note that the "fixes" patch here is not the one that introduced the
race (the very first iteration of this code from 2009) but a more recent
change that made this particular crash happen in practice.
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2024-56758 is a Linux kernel Btrfs bug that can crash a system when filesystem relocation overlaps with transaction abort cleanup. The public record describes a kernel NULL pointer dereference, not data theft or remote code execution.
Executive priority
Treat as a reliability and availability risk for Btrfs-backed Linux systems. It should be patched through normal kernel maintenance, with higher priority for storage-heavy production hosts or systems that perform Btrfs relocation operations.
Technical view
In Btrfs relocate_one_folio(), btrfs_read_folio() can unlock a folio, allowing another thread to invalidate its mapping before relocking. Subsequent code assumes mapping is non-NULL and can crash in set_page_extent_mapped during relocation and transaction abort cleanup.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most relevant to Linux systems using Btrfs on affected kernel versions or unfixed vendor kernels. The supplied data names Linux kernel stable fixes and Debian LTS guidance, but does not provide full distribution-by-distribution status.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. The described trigger is a concurrency race during Btrfs relocation and transaction abort handling, resulting in a kernel crash condition.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports a race-induced NULL pointer dereference in Btrfs folio mapping handling. The record does not provide CVSS, CWE, exploit evidence, or a complete affected-version matrix, so validation should rely on vendor kernel advisories and commit backports.
Mitigation direction
Apply vendor kernel updates containing the referenced Linux stable fixes.
Prioritize hosts using Btrfs for production storage or maintenance operations.
Check Debian or distribution advisories for packaged fixed kernel versions.
If patching is delayed, follow vendor guidance for supported risk reduction.
Monitor for kernel crashes until patched and validated.
Validation and detection
Inventory Linux hosts using Btrfs filesystems.
Compare running kernel versions against vendor advisories and stable fix commits.
Review kernel logs for oops traces involving Btrfs relocation functions.
Confirm patched systems boot the expected fixed kernel.
Run normal Btrfs maintenance only under approved operational procedures.
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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0CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
1ADP providers
6Source links
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CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
Jan 6, 2025, 16:20 UTC (UTC+00:00)
CVE updatedCVE Program
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