# CVE-2025-38580: ext4: fix inode use after free in ext4\_end\_io\_rsv\_work()

- Severity: CVSS 7.8 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2025-08-19 · Updated: 2026-08-05

## Affected

- Linux: version range not reported
- Linux: 6.15

## Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: fix inode use after free in ext4_end_io_rsv_work() In ext4_io_end_defer_completion(), check if io_end->list_vec is empty to avoid adding an io_end that requires no conversion to the i_rsv_conversion_list, which in turn prevents starting an unnecessary worker. An ext4_emergency_state() check is also added to avoid attempting to abort the journal in an emergency state. Additionally, ext4_put_io_end_defer() is refactored to call ext4_io_end_defer_completion() directly instead of being open-coded. This also prevents starting an unnecessary worker when EXT4_IO_END_FAILED is set but data_err=abort is not enabled. This ensures that the check in ext4_put_io_end_defer() is consistent with the check in ext4_end_bio(). Otherwise, we might add an io_end to the i_rsv_conversion_list and then call ext4_finish_bio(), after which the inode could be freed before ext4_end_io_rsv_work() is called, triggering a use-after-free issue.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Linux kernel, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
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## Related

- Browse: [Linux kernel](https://cve.now/tech/linux-kernel.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ac999862b98a0f49e858e509f776be51406f1e77
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/469c44e66e2110054949609dde095788320139d0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c678bdc998754589cea2e6afab9401d7d8312ac4

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2025-38580
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2025-38580
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