Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fs/buffer: fix use-after...
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
fs/buffer: fix use-after-free when call bh_read() helper
There's issue as follows:
BUG: KASAN: stack-out-of-bounds in end_buffer_read_sync+0xe3/0x110
Read of size 8 at addr ffffc9000168f7f8 by task swapper/3/0
CPU: 3 UID: 0 PID: 0 Comm: swapper/3 Not tainted 6.16.0-862.14.0.6.x86_64
Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996)
Call Trace:
dump_stack_lvl+0x55/0x70
print_address_description.constprop.0+0x2c/0x390
print_report+0xb4/0x270
kasan_report+0xb8/0xf0
end_buffer_read_sync+0xe3/0x110
end_bio_bh_io_sync+0x56/0x80
blk_update_request+0x30a/0x720
scsi_end_request+0x51/0x2b0
scsi_io_completion+0xe3/0x480
? scsi_device_unbusy+0x11e/0x160
blk_complete_reqs+0x7b/0x90
handle_softirqs+0xef/0x370
irq_exit_rcu+0xa5/0xd0
sysvec_apic_timer_interrupt+0x6e/0x90
Above issue happens when do ntfs3 filesystem mount, issue may happens
as follows:
mount IRQ
ntfs_fill_super
read_cache_page
do_read_cache_folio
filemap_read_folio
mpage_read_folio
do_mpage_readpage
ntfs_get_block_vbo
bh_read
submit_bh
wait_on_buffer(bh);
blk_complete_reqs
scsi_io_completion
scsi_end_request
blk_update_request
end_bio_bh_io_sync
end_buffer_read_sync
__end_buffer_read_notouch
unlock_buffer
wait_on_buffer(bh);--> return will return to caller
put_bh
--> trigger stack-out-of-bounds
In the mpage_read_folio() function, the stack variable 'map_bh' is
passed to ntfs_get_block_vbo(). Once unlock_buffer() unlocks and
wait_on_buffer() returns to continue processing, the stack variable
is likely to be reclaimed. Consequently, during the end_buffer_read_sync()
process, calling put_bh() may result in stack overrun.
If the bh is not allocated on the stack, it belongs to a folio. Freeing
a buffer head which belongs to a folio is done by drop_buffers() which
will fail to free buffers which are still locked. So it is safe to call
put_bh() before __end_buffer_read_notouch().
Impact
Memory is accessed after it has been freed, leading to undefined behavior in native code. Typical impact: memory corruption, crash, or potential code execution.
CVE-2025-39691 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (High). The vector is requires local access, low privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. No fixed version is listed yet, so configuration controls and monitoring matter more in the interim.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
Already deployed Kodem?
See it in your environmentNew to Kodem? Get a demo →Remediation advice
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2025-39691? CVE-2025-39691 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability. No fixed version is listed yet. Memory is accessed after it has been freed, leading to undefined behavior in native code.
- How severe is CVE-2025-39691? CVE-2025-39691 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (High). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2025-39691? No fixed version is listed for CVE-2025-39691 yet. Monitor the advisory for updates and apply mitigations in the interim.
- Is CVE-2025-39691 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2025-39691 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2025-39691 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.