In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
btrfs: zoned: flush active metadata block group at btree_writepages() start
btree_writepages() writes the btree inode's dirty metadata in ascending
logical address order. On a zoned filesystem only one metadata and one
system block group is active for writing at a time, and
check_bg_is_active() (via btrfs_check_meta_write_pointer()) pivots the
active block group as writeback moves from one block group to the next.
If the active block group sits at a higher logical address than another
block group that also holds dirty metadata, the ascending walk reaches
the lower one first and, to write it, has to finish the active block
group and activate the lower one. It cannot finish a block group that
still has unsent IO, and during WB_SYNC_ALL && !for_sync (commit)
writeback it deliberately refuses to wait for that IO under
fs_info->zoned_meta_io_lock, as that can deadlock. The pivot thus cannot
issue the submission itself either, so it gives up:
btrfs_check_meta_write_pointer() returns -EAGAIN, which
btrfs_write_and_wait_transaction() treats as fatal and aborts the
transaction, forcing the filesystem read-only. This happens
intermittently under metadata-heavy relocation (e.g. fstests btrfs/187).
Flush the active metadata and system block groups at the start of
btree_writepages(), under the fs_info->zoned_meta_io_lock it already
holds, so they have no unsent IO left and the later pivot can finish
them and make forward progress.
btrfs: zoned: flush active metadata block group at btree_writepages() start
btree_writepages() writes the btree inode's dirty metadata in ascending
logical address order. On a zoned filesystem only one metadata and one
system block group is active for writing at a time, and
check_bg_is_active() (via btrfs_check_meta_write_pointer()) pivots the
active block group as writeback moves from one block group to the next.
If the active block group sits at a higher logical address than another
block group that also holds dirty metadata, the ascending walk reaches
the lower one first and, to write it, has to finish the active block
group and activate the lower one. It cannot finish a block group that
still has unsent IO, and during WB_SYNC_ALL && !for_sync (commit)
writeback it deliberately refuses to wait for that IO under
fs_info->zoned_meta_io_lock, as that can deadlock. The pivot thus cannot
issue the submission itself either, so it gives up:
btrfs_check_meta_write_pointer() returns -EAGAIN, which
btrfs_write_and_wait_transaction() treats as fatal and aborts the
transaction, forcing the filesystem read-only. This happens
intermittently under metadata-heavy relocation (e.g. fstests btrfs/187).
Flush the active metadata and system block groups at the start of
btree_writepages(), under the fs_info->zoned_meta_io_lock it already
holds, so they have no unsent IO left and the later pivot can finish
them and make forward progress.
Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).
| Vendor | Product | Default status | Versions | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | unaffected |
|
|||||||||||||||
| Linux | Linux | affected |
|
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Advisories
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Fixes
Solution
No solution given by the vendor.
Workaround
No workaround given by the vendor.
References
History
Thu, 17 Sep 2026 16:30:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: zoned: flush active metadata block group at btree_writepages() start btree_writepages() writes the btree inode's dirty metadata in ascending logical address order. On a zoned filesystem only one metadata and one system block group is active for writing at a time, and check_bg_is_active() (via btrfs_check_meta_write_pointer()) pivots the active block group as writeback moves from one block group to the next. If the active block group sits at a higher logical address than another block group that also holds dirty metadata, the ascending walk reaches the lower one first and, to write it, has to finish the active block group and activate the lower one. It cannot finish a block group that still has unsent IO, and during WB_SYNC_ALL && !for_sync (commit) writeback it deliberately refuses to wait for that IO under fs_info->zoned_meta_io_lock, as that can deadlock. The pivot thus cannot issue the submission itself either, so it gives up: btrfs_check_meta_write_pointer() returns -EAGAIN, which btrfs_write_and_wait_transaction() treats as fatal and aborts the transaction, forcing the filesystem read-only. This happens intermittently under metadata-heavy relocation (e.g. fstests btrfs/187). Flush the active metadata and system block groups at the start of btree_writepages(), under the fs_info->zoned_meta_io_lock it already holds, so they have no unsent IO left and the later pivot can finish them and make forward progress. | |
| Title | btrfs: zoned: flush active metadata block group at btree_writepages() start | |
| First Time appeared |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| Vendors & Products |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| References |
|
Projects
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MITRE
Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Linux
Published:
Updated: 2026-09-17T16:07:58.806Z
Reserved: 2026-09-11T19:38:34.796Z
Link: CVE-2026-90261
Vulnrichment
No data.
NVD
Status : Received
Published: 2026-09-17T17:17:22.537
Modified: 2026-09-17T17:17:22.537
Link: CVE-2026-90261
Redhat
No data.
OpenCVE Enrichment
No data.
Weaknesses
No weakness.