Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-23036

medium Nessus Plugin ID 297489

Synopsis

The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed with a vulnerability that the vendor indicates will not be patched.

Description

The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed that are impacted by a vulnerability without a vendor supplied patch available.

- btrfs: release path before iget_failed() in btrfs_read_locked_inode() In btrfs_read_locked_inode() if we fail to lookup the inode, we jump to the 'out' label with a path that has a read locked leaf and then we call iget_failed(). This can result in a ABBA deadlock, since iget_failed() triggers inode eviction and that causes the release of the delayed inode, which must lock the delayed inode's mutex, and a task updating a delayed inode starts by taking the node's mutex and then modifying the inode's subvolume btree.
Syzbot reported the following lockdep splat for this:
====================================================== WARNING: possible circular locking dependency detected syzkaller #0 Not tainted ------------------------------------------------------ btrfs- cleaner/8725 is trying to acquire lock: ffff0000d6826a48 (&delayed_node->mutex){+.+.}-{4:4}, at:
__btrfs_release_delayed_node+0xa0/0x9b0 fs/btrfs/delayed-inode.c:290 but task is already holding lock:
ffff0000dbeba878 (btrfs-tree-00){++++}-{4:4}, at: btrfs_tree_read_lock_nested+0x44/0x2ec fs/btrfs/locking.c:145 which lock already depends on the new lock. the existing dependency chain (in reverse order) is: -> #1 (btrfs-tree-00){++++}-{4:4}: __lock_release kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5574 [inline] lock_release+0x198/0x39c kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5889 up_read+0x24/0x3c kernel/locking/rwsem.c:1632 btrfs_tree_read_unlock+0xdc/0x298 fs/btrfs/locking.c:169 btrfs_tree_unlock_rw fs/btrfs/locking.h:218 [inline] btrfs_search_slot+0xa6c/0x223c fs/btrfs/ctree.c:2133 btrfs_lookup_inode+0xd8/0x38c fs/btrfs/inode-item.c:395 __btrfs_update_delayed_inode+0x124/0xed0 fs/btrfs/delayed-inode.c:1032 btrfs_update_delayed_inode fs/btrfs/delayed-inode.c:1118 [inline]
__btrfs_commit_inode_delayed_items+0x15f8/0x1748 fs/btrfs/delayed-inode.c:1141
__btrfs_run_delayed_items+0x1ac/0x514 fs/btrfs/delayed-inode.c:1176 btrfs_run_delayed_items_nr+0x28/0x38 fs/btrfs/delayed-inode.c:1219 flush_space+0x26c/0xb68 fs/btrfs/space-info.c:828 do_async_reclaim_metadata_space+0x110/0x364 fs/btrfs/space-info.c:1158 btrfs_async_reclaim_metadata_space+0x90/0xd8 fs/btrfs/space-info.c:1226 process_one_work+0x7e8/0x155c kernel/workqueue.c:3263 process_scheduled_works kernel/workqueue.c:3346 [inline] worker_thread+0x958/0xed8 kernel/workqueue.c:3427 kthread+0x5fc/0x75c kernel/kthread.c:463 ret_from_fork+0x10/0x20 arch/arm64/kernel/entry.S:844 -> #0 (&delayed_node->mutex){+.+.}-{4:4}: check_prev_add kernel/locking/lockdep.c:3165 [inline] check_prevs_add kernel/locking/lockdep.c:3284 [inline] validate_chain kernel/locking/lockdep.c:3908 [inline] __lock_acquire+0x1774/0x30a4 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5237 lock_acquire+0x14c/0x2e0 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5868
__mutex_lock_common+0x1d0/0x2678 kernel/locking/mutex.c:598 __mutex_lock kernel/locking/mutex.c:760 [inline] mutex_lock_nested+0x2c/0x38 kernel/locking/mutex.c:812 __btrfs_release_delayed_node+0xa0/0x9b0 fs/btrfs/delayed-inode.c:290 btrfs_release_delayed_node fs/btrfs/delayed-inode.c:315 [inline] btrfs_remove_delayed_node+0x68/0x84 fs/btrfs/delayed-inode.c:1326 btrfs_evict_inode+0x578/0xe28 fs/btrfs/inode.c:5587 evict+0x414/0x928 fs/inode.c:810 iput_final fs/inode.c:1914 [inline] iput+0x95c/0xad4 fs/inode.c:1966 iget_failed+0xec/0x134 fs/bad_inode.c:248 btrfs_read_locked_inode+0xe1c/0x1234 fs/btrfs/inode.c:4101 btrfs_iget+0x1b0/0x264 fs/btrfs/inode.c:5837 btrfs_run_defrag_inode fs/btrfs/defrag.c:237 [inline] btrfs_run_defrag_inodes+0x520/0xdc4 fs/btrf
---truncated--- (CVE-2026-23036)

Note that Nessus relies on the presence of the package as reported by the vendor.

Solution

There is no known solution at this time.

See Also

https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-23036

Plugin Details

Severity: Medium

ID: 297489

File Name: unpatched_CVE_2026_23036.nasl

Version: 1.6

Type: local

Agent: unix

Family: Misc.

Published: 1/31/2026

Updated: 2/13/2026

Supported Sensors: Agentless Assessment, Frictionless Assessment Agent, Frictionless Assessment AWS, Frictionless Assessment Azure, Nessus Agent, Nessus

Risk Information

VPR

Risk Factor: Medium

Score: 5.1

CVSS v2

Risk Factor: Medium

Base Score: 4.7

Temporal Score: 4

Vector: CVSS2#AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:C

CVSS Score Source: CVE-2026-23036

CVSS v3

Risk Factor: Medium

Base Score: 4.2

Temporal Score: 3.9

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Temporal Vector: CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:U/RC:C

Vulnerability Information

CPE: cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:-:lts, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-azure, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gcp, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gke-5.4, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gkeop, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-raspi2, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-azure-fde, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gke-5.15, cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:24.04:-:lts, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-hwe-6.11, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-hwe-6.5, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oem-6.8, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oem-6.11, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-riscv, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gkeop-5.15, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-intel-iot-realtime, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-raspi-realtime, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oracle-5.0, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-hwe-5.8, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-azure-6.5, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-riscv-5.19, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-starfive-6.5, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-azure-6.11, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-aws-5.13, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-aws-6.2, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-aws-6.5, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-azure-5.8, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-azure-6.2, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-azure-fde-5.19, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-azure-fde-6.2, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gcp-5.8, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gcp-5.11, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gcp-5.13, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gcp-5.19, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gcp-6.11, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-hwe-5.11, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-hwe-5.13, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-hwe-6.2, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-riscv-5.11, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oem-5.13, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gcp-6.14, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-hwe-6.14, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-nvidia-6.11, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-azure-fde-6.14, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-azure-6.14, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-azure-nvidia-6.14, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oem-6.17, cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:-:lts, cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:20.04:-:lts, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-aws, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gke, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-azure-edge, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gkeop-5.4, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oracle, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-raspi, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oem, cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:22.04:-:lts, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-hwe, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-nvidia-6.5, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-hwe-edge, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-realtime, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-aws-5.0, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-azure-5.3, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gcp-5.3, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gke-4.15, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oem-5.6, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oracle-5.3, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-nvidia-6.2, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gcp-6.5, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oem-6.5, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oracle-6.5, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-allwinner-5.19, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-intel-5.13, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-starfive-5.19, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-aws-5.3, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-aws-5.8, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-aws-5.11, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-aws-5.19, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-aws-6.14, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-azure-5.11, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-azure-5.13, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-azure-5.19, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gcp-6.2, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-hwe-5.19, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oem-5.10, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oem-5.14, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oem-5.17, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oem-6.0, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oem-6.1, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oem-6.14, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oracle-5.8, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oracle-5.11, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oracle-5.13, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-riscv-5.8, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-riscv-6.5, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-riscv-6.14, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-starfive-6.2, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oracle-6.14, cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:25.10

Required KB Items: Host/cpu, Host/local_checks_enabled, global_settings/vendor_unpatched, Host/OS/identifier

Exploit Ease: No known exploits are available

Vulnerability Publication Date: 1/31/2026

Reference Information

CVE: CVE-2026-23036