Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xfs: do not propagate...
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.
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.)
Impact
CVE-2025-39835 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2025-39835? CVE-2025-39835 is a high-severity security vulnerability. No fixed version is listed yet.
- How severe is CVE-2025-39835? CVE-2025-39835 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-2025-39835? No fixed version is listed for CVE-2025-39835 yet. Monitor the advisory for updates and apply mitigations in the interim.
- Is CVE-2025-39835 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2025-39835 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-2025-39835 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.