CVE-2023-54062: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: fix invalid free tracking in ext4_xattr_move_to_block() In ext4_xattr_move...

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: fix invalid free tracking in ext4_xattr_move_to_block() In ext4_xattr_move_to_block(), the value of the extended attribute which we need to move to an external block may be allocated by kvmalloc() if the value is stored in an external inode. So at the end of the function the code tried to check if this was the case by testing entry->e_value_inum. However, at this point, the pointer to the xattr entry is no longer valid, because it was removed from the original location where it had been stored. So we could end up calling kvfree() on a pointer which was not allocated by kvmalloc(); or we could also potentially leak memory by not freeing the buffer when it should be freed. Fix this by storing whether it should be freed in a separate variable.

Metrics

EPSS Probability

0.19%

9.4th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

References

Timeline

Published: Dec 24, 2025
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Deferred

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-54062?

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: fix invalid free tracking in ext4_xattr_move_to_block() In ext4_xattr_move_to_block(), the value of the extended attribute which we need to move to an external block may be allocated by kvmalloc() if the value is stored in an external inode. So at the end of the function the code tried to check if this was the case by testing entry->e_value_inum. However, at this point, the pointer to the xattr entry is no longer valid, because it was removed from the original location where it had been stored. So we could end up calling kvfree() on a pointer which was not allocated by kvmalloc(); or we could also potentially leak memory by not freeing the buffer when it should be freed. Fix this by storing whether it should be freed in a separate variable.

How severe is CVE-2023-54062?

Severity scoring for CVE-2023-54062 is pending analysis. The EPSS model estimates a 0.19% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2023-54062?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.