CVE-2025-68784 xfs: fix a UAF problem in xattr repair
A use-after-free flaw in the Linux kernel's XFS xattr repair allows local attackers to potentially execute code or escalate privileges.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2025-68784?
CVE-2025-68784 is an use after free vulnerability in Linux, published on 13 Jan 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
xfs: fix a UAF problem in xattr repair
The xchk_setup_xattr_buf function can allocate a new value buffer, which means that any reference to ab->value before the call could become a dangling pointer. Fix this by moving an assignment to after the buffer setup.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-68784?
How do I fix CVE-2025-68784?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2025-68784 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-68784 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2025-68784, DEBIAN-CVE-2025-68784, GHSA-cm82-qh9h-xpj6, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-13-CVE-2025-68784, UBUNTU-CVE-2025-68784.