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CVE Record

CVE-2025-38365: btrfs: fix a race between renames and directory logging

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: fix a race between renames and directory logging We have a race between a rename and directory inode logging that if it happens and we crash/power fail before the rename completes, the next time the filesystem is mounted, the log replay code will end up deleting the file that was being renamed. This is best explained following a step by step analysis of an interleaving of steps that lead into this situation. Consider the initial conditions: 1) We are at transaction N; 2) We have directories A and B created in a past transaction (< N); 3) We have inode X corresponding to a file that has 2 hardlinks, one in directory A and the other in directory B, so we'll name them as "A/foo_link1" and "B/foo_link2". Both hard links were persisted in a past transaction (< N); 4) We have inode Y corresponding to a file that as a single hard link and is located in directory A, we'll name it as "A/bar". This file was also persisted in a past transaction (< N). The steps leading to a file loss are the following and for all of them we are under transaction N: 1) Link "A/foo_link1" is removed, so inode's X last_unlink_trans field is updated to N, through btrfs_unlink() -> btrfs_record_unlink_dir(); 2) Task A starts a rename for inode Y, with the goal of renaming from "A/bar" to "A/baz", so we enter btrfs_rename(); 3) Task A inserts the new BTRFS_INODE_REF_KEY for inode Y by calling btrfs_insert_inode_ref(); 4) Because the rename happens in the same directory, we don't set the last_unlink_trans field of directoty A's inode to the current transaction id, that is, we don't cal btrfs_record_unlink_dir(); 5) Task A then removes the entries from directory A (BTRFS_DIR_ITEM_KEY and BTRFS_DIR_INDEX_KEY items) when calling __btrfs_unlink_inode() (actually the dir index item is added as a delayed item, but the effect is the same); 6) Now before task A adds the new entry "A/baz" to directory A by calling btrfs_add_link(), another task, task B is logging inode X; 7) Task B starts a fsync of inode X and after logging inode X, at btrfs_log_inode_parent() it calls btrfs_log_all_parents(), since inode X has a last_unlink_trans value of N, set at in step 1; 8) At btrfs_log_all_parents() we search for all parent directories of inode X using the commit root, so we find directories A and B and log them. Bu when logging direct A, we don't have a dir index item for inode Y anymore, neither the old name "A/bar" nor for the new name "A/baz" since the rename has deleted the old name but has not yet inserted the new name - task A hasn't called yet btrfs_add_link() to do that. Note that logging directory A doesn't fallback to a transaction commit because its last_unlink_trans has a lower value than the current transaction's id (see step 4); 9) Task B finishes logging directories A and B and gets back to btrfs_sync_file() where it calls btrfs_sync_log() to persist the log tree; 10) Task B successfully persisted the log tree, btrfs_sync_log() completed with success, and a power failure happened. We have a log tree without any directory entry for inode Y, so the log replay code deletes the entry for inode Y, name "A/bar", from the subvolume tree since it doesn't exist in the log tree and the log tree is authorative for its index (we logged a BTRFS_DIR_LOG_INDEX_KEY item that covers the index range for the dentry that corresponds to "A/bar"). Since there's no other hard link for inode Y and the log replay code deletes the name "A/bar", the file is lost. The issue wouldn't happen if task B synced the log only after task A called btrfs_log_new_name(), which would update the log with the new name for inode Y ("A/bar"). Fix this by pinning the log root during renames before removing the old directory entry, and unpinning af ---truncated---

CriticalCVSS 9.1Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysiscritical

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A timing flaw in Linux's Btrfs filesystem can make a renamed file disappear after a crash or power loss. Concurrent activity can persist an incomplete directory log; recovery then treats the missing entry as authoritative and removes the file's only name. The documented impact is data integrity and availability, not confidentiality loss.

Executive priority

Treat remediation as urgent where critical production data resides on Btrfs, particularly when abrupt shutdowns are plausible. The principal business risk is file loss discovered during recovery. Schedule vendor-approved kernel updates promptly, while prioritizing systems by Btrfs usage, data criticality, power resilience, and backup readiness.

Technical view

A race between btrfs_rename() and directory logging allows fsync to persist a directory while the old entry is removed but the new entry is absent. If the system fails before rename completion, log replay can delete the remaining file entry. The upstream fix pins the log root during the vulnerable rename interval.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to systems running affected Linux kernels with actively used Btrfs filesystems. The supplied affected-version data lists several kernel versions but contains ambiguous entries, including “0.” Distribution kernels may contain backports, so version strings alone cannot reliably establish exposure.

Exploitation context

The supplied bundle marks KEV as false, and no cited source reports active exploitation or a public exploit. Triggering requires a narrow concurrency window during Btrfs rename and logging, followed by a crash or power loss. Although the CVSS vector states network access, the narrative does not demonstrate a remote attack path.

Researcher notes

The supplied description is truncated, and its affected-version data includes an anomalous “0” plus fix commits without branch mapping. Validate exact affected and fixed boundaries against upstream stable commits and distribution advisories. The documented primitive is a filesystem consistency race during logging and replay; it does not establish remote code execution.

Mitigation direction

  • Install a vendor-supported kernel containing the applicable stable fix, then reboot into it.
  • Prioritize Btrfs systems exposed to sudden resets or power loss and protect critical data with tested backups.
  • Review the Debian LTS advisory when applicable; otherwise obtain distribution-specific remediation guidance.
  • Until patched, reduce unplanned shutdown risk; this lowers exposure but does not remove the flaw.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory mounted filesystem types and identify systems actively using Btrfs.
  • Record running kernel and distribution package versions, not merely installed kernel packages.
  • Confirm through vendor advisories or commit history that the relevant stable fix is present.
  • After updating, verify the fixed kernel is running and perform approved backup-restoration checks.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
8

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-2025-38365 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Critical
CVSS
9.1 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/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
1ADP providers
7Source links

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
9.1CVSS 3.1CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H3.95.2Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

9.1Critical
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-38365Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

CVECVE Program Container
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux259c4b96d78dda8477a3ac21d6b3cf0eb9f75c8b, 259c4b96d78dda8477a3ac21d6b3cf0eb9f75c8b, 259c4b96d78dda8477a3ac21d6b3cf0eb9f75c8b, 259c4b96d78dda8477a3ac21d6b3cf0eb9f75c8b, 259c4b96d78dda8477a3ac21d6b3cf0eb9f75c8bunaffected
LinuxLinux5.18, 0, 6.1.143, 6.6.96, 6.12.36, 6.15.5, 6.16affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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