CVE-2026-31666
Published: April 24, 2026· Updated: Apr 27, 2026
Official Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
btrfs: fix incorrect return value after changing leaf in lookup_extent_data_ref()
After commit 1618aa3c2e01 ("btrfs: simplify return variables in
lookup_extent_data_ref()"), the err and ret variables were merged into
a single ret variable. However, when btrfs_next_leaf() returns 0
(success), ret is overwritten from -ENOENT to 0. If the first key in
the next leaf does not match (different objectid or type), the function
returns 0 instead of -ENOENT, making the caller believe the lookup
succeeded when it did not. This can lead to operations on the wrong
extent tree item, potentially causing extent tree corruption.
Fix this by returning -ENOENT directly when the key does not match,
instead of relying on the ret variable.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-31666 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.
Exploitation requires low privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.
A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 7.8.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Affected Vendors & Products
Exploit & PoC Resources
Official Patches & Advisories
All References (4)
Quick Facts
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2026-31666 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts