CVE-2026-43067
CriticalIn the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: handle wraparound when searching for blocks for indirect mapped blocks Commit 4865c768b563 ("ext4: always allocate blocks only from groups inode can use") restricts what blocks will be allocated for indirect block based files to block numbers that fit within 32-bit block numbers. However, when using a review bot running on the latest Gemini LLM to check this commit when backporting into an LTS based kernel, it raised this concern: If ac->ac_g_ex.fe_group is >= ngroups (for instance, if the goal group was populated via stream allocation from s_mb_last_groups), then start will be >= ngroups. Does this allow allocating blocks beyond the 32-bit limit for indirect block mapped files? The commit message mentions that ext4_mb_scan_groups_linear() takes care to not select unsupported groups. However, its loop uses group = *start, and the very first iteration will call ext4_mb_scan_group() with this unsupported group because next_linear_group() is only called at the end of the iteration. After reviewing the code paths involved and considering the LLM review, I determined that this can happen when there is a file system where some files/directories are extent-mapped and others are indirect-block mapped. To address this, add a safety clamp in ext4_mb_scan_groups().
CVSS 3.1 score
9.8
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Affected versions
Linux kernel versions
5.15.203,
6.1.167,
6.6.130,
6.12.77,
6.18.14,
6.19.4
and later are affected. No fixed version recorded yet.
References
The following references provide additional information about CVE-2026-43067 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.
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PatchKernel patch commithttps://git.kernel.org/stable/c/12624c5b724a81e14e532972b40d863b0de3b7d1
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PatchKernel patch commithttps://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2a368ccddfc492a0aa951e2caef2985f20e96503
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PatchKernel patch commithttps://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4bec4a498ce86314d470ae6144120461f2138c29
Frequently asked questions
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What is CVE-2026-43067?
CVE-2026-43067 is a Critical severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 9.8 out of 10 . It affects Linux kernel versions from 5.15.203 onward . CVE-2026-43067 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
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What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-43067?
CVE-2026-43067 has a CVSS score of 9.8 out of 10, rated Critical severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. -
Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-43067?
No patch is currently available for CVE-2026-43067. Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for updates.
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Is CVE-2026-43067 actively exploited?
No — CVE-2026-43067 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.