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Response snapshot Nov 5, 2026, 23:11 UTC

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VulnerabilityCVE-2025-39835

Linux kernel: xfs: do not propagate ENODATA disk errors into xattr code

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xfs: do not propagate ENODATA disk errors into xattr code ENODATA (aka ENOATTR) has a very specific meaning in the xfs xattr code; namely, that the requested attribute name could not be found.

At a glance

Exploited
Not known
Severity
7.8 High (CVSS 3.1)
Chance of exploitation
Not estimated
Sources
1 source

What to do

Check the vendor advisory for affected versions and fixes.

Read NVD CVE-2025-39835 (opens a new tab)

What happened

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

xfs: do not propagate ENODATA disk errors into xattr code

ENODATA (aka ENOATTR) has a very specific meaning in the xfs xattr code; namely, that the requested attribute name could not be found.

However, a medium error from disk may also return ENODATA. At best, this medium error may escape to userspace as "attribute not found" when in fact it's an IO (disk) error.

Continue reading

At worst, we may oops in xfs_attr_leaf_get() when we do:

error = xfs_attr_leaf_hasname(args, &bp); if (error == -ENOATTR) { xfs_trans_brelse(args->trans, bp); return error; }

because an ENODATA/ENOATTR error from disk leaves us with a null bp, and the xfs_trans_brelse will then null-deref it.

As discussed on the list, we really need to modify the lower level IO functions to trap all disk errors and ensure that we don't let unique errors like this leak up into higher xfs functions - many like this should be remapped to EIO.

However, this patch directly addresses a reported bug in the xattr code, and should be safe to backport to stable kernels. A larger-scope patch to handle more unique errors at lower levels can follow later.

(Note, prior to 07120f1abdff we did not oops, but we did return the wrong error code to userspace.)

Scores and how they were measured

CVSS base severity

7.8

Version 3.1As of

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Measurement source (opens a new tab)

How bad it is if exploited. Not a prediction of exploitation or proof you are exposed.

EPSS probability

Not available

A model's estimate of exploitation in the next 30 days, not certainty or your own risk.

Related technology

Sources

  1. Primary source

    NVD CVE-2025-39835 (opens a new tab)

    NVD record: description, CVSS (the CNA score is preferred), affected products, and publication date. Not evidence of exploitation.

    Published Checked

  2. Primary source

    NVD CVE API 2.0 (opens a new tab)

    The NVD API page that supplied this CVE record.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

  3. Primary source

    NVD CVE API 2.0 (opens a new tab)

    The NVD API page that supplied this CVE record.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

Cite this record

For factual claims, cite the primary sources above; cite KEVWire for its compilation, dates, and classifications.

APA

KEVWire. (2026, November 5). Linux kernel: xfs: do not propagate ENODATA disk errors into xattr code (CVE-2025-39835). https://kevwire.com/record/CVE-2025-39835

MLA

"Linux kernel: xfs: do not propagate ENODATA disk errors into xattr code (CVE-2025-39835)." KEVWire, 5 Nov. 2026, kevwire.com/record/CVE-2025-39835.

Chicago

KEVWire. "Linux kernel: xfs: do not propagate ENODATA disk errors into xattr code (CVE-2025-39835)." Last modified November 5, 2026. https://kevwire.com/record/CVE-2025-39835.

Evidence summary (plain text)

Linux kernel: xfs: do not propagate ENODATA disk errors into xattr code (Sep 16, 2025).
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

xfs: do not propagate ENODATA disk errors into xattr code

ENODATA (aka ENOATTR) has a very specific meaning in the xfs xattr code;
namely, that the requested attribute name could not be found.

However, a medium error from disk may also return ENODATA. At best,
this medium error may escape to userspace as "attribute not found"
when in fact it's an IO (disk) error.
CVSS 7.8 (version 3.1; evidence as of Nov 5, 2026; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-39835).
Sources:
NVD CVE-2025-39835: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-39835
NVD CVE API 2.0: https://services.nvd.nist.gov/rest/json/cves/2.0?lastModStartDate=2026-11-05T21:26:36.106Z&lastModEndDate=2026-11-05T23:10:57.358Z&resultsPerPage=500&startIndex=0
NVD CVE API 2.0: https://services.nvd.nist.gov/rest/json/cves/2.0?lastModStartDate=2026-11-05T20:51:23.450Z&lastModEndDate=2026-11-05T22:25:57.582Z&resultsPerPage=500&startIndex=0
Record ID: CVE-2025-39835.
Record origin: Ingested record.
AI evidence: Not assessed.
Known exploitation: Not assessed.
Zero-day status: Not assessed. KEV membership alone does not establish zero-day status.
About this data

This record was ingested from a data source. Retrieved: Nov 5, 2026, 23:10 UTC. Ingestion is not an independent editorial investigation.

NVD status: Modified. Publication in the NVD is not evidence of exploitation.

A CISA KEV listing documents known exploitation, not necessarily a zero-day; absence from the catalog does not prove a vulnerability has never been exploited.

Technology tags indicate possible relevance, not verified exposure. Confirm the affected product, version, and configuration against your own inventory; KEVWire does not scan your systems.

A personal reading checklist on this device, not verified remediation.

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Record details

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