HOMEVULNERABILITIESCVE-2019-15538
HIGH

CVE-2019-15538

CWE-400Published: August 25, 2019· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

7.5
CVSS v3.1

Official Description

An issue was discovered in xfs_setattr_nonsize in fs/xfs/xfs_iops.c in the Linux kernel through 5.2.9. XFS partially wedges when a chgrp fails on account of being out of disk quota. xfs_setattr_nonsize is failing to unlock the ILOCK after the xfs_qm_vop_chown_reserve call fails. This is primarily a local DoS attack vector, but it might result as well in remote DoS if the XFS filesystem is exported for instance via NFS.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2019-15538 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.

The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.

A successful exploit results in availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 7.5.

CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown

Exploitability
Attack VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges Req.None
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
Impact
ConfidentialityNone
IntegrityNone
AvailabilityHigh
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Affected Vendors & Products

Canonical1 product(s)
ubuntu linux
Debian1 product(s)
debian linux
Fedora1 product(s)
fedora
Linux1 product(s)
linux kernel
netapp23 product(s)
data availability serviceshci management nodesolidfireaff a700s firmwareaff a700sh300s firmwareh300sh500s firmwareh500sh700s firmwareh700sh300e firmware+11
openSUSE1 product(s)
leap
Source: NVD CPE · 33 total CPE entries

Exploit & PoC Resources

NO KNOWN EXPLOITNo public exploit confirmed at this time
Exploit-DB
Offensive Security exploit database
GitHub PoC Search
Community PoC repositories
Rapid7 / Metasploit
Metasploit module search
PacketStorm
Security advisories & exploits
NVD Detail
Official NIST entry
MITRE CVE
CVE Program entry
External links open in a new tab. Always verify in a controlled environment before use.

Official Patches & Advisories

PATCHhttps://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=1fb254aa983bf190cfd685d40c64a480a9bafaee
PATCHhttps://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/1fb254aa983bf190cfd685d40c64a480a9bafaee
PATCHhttps://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=1fb254aa983bf190cfd685d40c64a480a9bafaee
PATCHhttps://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/1fb254aa983bf190cfd685d40c64a480a9bafaee
ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-09/msg00064.html
ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-09/msg00066.html
ADVISORYhttps://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/09/msg00014.html
ADVISORYhttps://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/09/msg00015.html
ADVISORYhttps://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20191004-0001/
ADVISORYhttps://usn.ubuntu.com/4144-1/
ADVISORYhttps://usn.ubuntu.com/4147-1/
ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-09/msg00064.html
ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-09/msg00066.html
ADVISORYhttps://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/09/msg00014.html
ADVISORYhttps://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/09/msg00015.html
ADVISORYhttps://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20191004-0001/
ADVISORYhttps://usn.ubuntu.com/4144-1/
ADVISORYhttps://usn.ubuntu.com/4147-1/

All References (28)

→
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-09/msg00064.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory
→
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-09/msg00066.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory
→
https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=1fb254aa983bf190cfd685d40c64a480a9bafaeeMailing List · Patch · Vendor Advisory
→
https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/1fb254aa983bf190cfd685d40c64a480a9bafaeePatch · Third Party Advisory
→
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/09/msg00014.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory
→
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/09/msg00015.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory
→
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/O3RUDQJXRJQVGHCGR4YZWTQ3ECBI7TXH/
→
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/T4JZ6AEUKFWBHQAROGMQARJ274PQP2QP/
→
https://lore.kernel.org/linux-xfs/20190823035528.GH1037422%40magnolia/
→
https://lore.kernel.org/linux-xfs/20190823192433.GA8736%40eldamar.local
→
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20191004-0001/Third Party Advisory
→
https://support.f5.com/csp/article/K32592426?utm_source=f5support&amp%3Butm_medium=RSS
→
https://usn.ubuntu.com/4144-1/Third Party Advisory
→
https://usn.ubuntu.com/4147-1/Third Party Advisory
→
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-09/msg00064.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2019-15538
CVSS Score7.5 / 10
SeverityHIGH
WeaknessCWE-400
CISA KEVNo
Affected6 vendor(s)
PublishedAug 25, 2019

Related CVEs (CWE-400)

CVE-2019-10747
9.8
CVE-2019-10750
9.8
CVE-2017-9119
9.8
CVE-2026-30141
9.8
CVE-2018-16486
9.8
CVE-2017-9104
9.8

Recommended Actions

  • →Apply vendor patches immediately
  • →Monitor CVE-2019-15538 in threat intel feeds
  • →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts
Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWatch. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.
← All Vulnerabilities·Search for CVE-2019-15538·NVD