# CVE-2026-97543: xfs: destroy seen inode bitmap when we fail to add a dirpath

> A memory leak in the XFS filesystem allows local attackers to cause denial of service by triggering specific directory path errors.

- **Severity:** Not scored
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 25 Sep 2026
- **Updated:** 19 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2026-97543, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-97543, GHSA-jm9w-mmf5-g697, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97543

## What is CVE-2026-97543?

CVE-2026-97543 is a memory corruption vulnerability in Linux, published on 25 Sep 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: destroy seen inode bitmap when we fail to add a dirpath

LOLLM observes a memory leak in xchk_dirtree_create_path if we create
the directory path object but appending the name to the path fails.
When this happens, we don't tear down the (empty) seen inode bitmap.
This is a pretty trivial error, but let's not leave logic bombs.

Do the same for a similar bug in xrep_dirtree_create_adoption_path.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-97543?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-97543?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2026-97543 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-97543 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-97543 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-97543 is a memory corruption vulnerability in Linux, published on 25 Sep 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-97543 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-97543/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-97543/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-97543
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97543
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-97543

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-97543/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.