High [CVE-2026-71220] Gfs2-utils: gfs2-utils: stack out-of-bounds write via unchecked di_height in gfs2_edit
This high-severity Red Hat Linux advisory covers CVE-2026-71220 affecting Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.
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Summary
A stack out-of-bounds write vulnerability was found in gfs2-utils. In gfs2_edit, the di_height field from on-disk inode metadata is used as an array index without bounds checking, causing a stack buffer overflow that may lead to arbitrary code execution when processing crafted GFS2 filesystem images.
This vulnerability is assessed as Moderate impact because the unchecked di_height field enables a controlled stack buffer overflow in gfs2_edit. The attacker controls the array index and can overwrite the return address on the stack, potentially achieving code execution.
While RHEL compiler hardening (-fstack-protector-strong, PIE, ASLR) provides partial mitigation, the controlled nature of the out-of-bounds write makes exploitation plausible. Exploitation requires local access and user interaction (an administrator must run gfs2_edit on the crafted image).
The vulnerability does not affect the kernel GFS2 driver, which validates di_height against sd_max_height. Red Hat severity: Moderate — CVSS 7 (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
Weakness: CWE-787. Affected Red Hat products: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.
Red Hat does not currently list a fixing RHSA for this CVE.
Affected products named by the advisory: Red Hat package: gfs2-utils.src.
Affected versions
No affected-version range was extracted from the source record. The vendor advisory is authoritative — check it before change work.
Official advisory · high-confidence parse· fetched 2 hours ago·verify at source
Fixed versions
No fixed release is recorded yet. That does not prove no patch exists — confirm against the vendor advisory.
Official advisory · high-confidence parse· fetched 2 hours ago·verify at source
Mitigation checklist
- Do not run gfs2_edit on untrusted or potentially compromised GFS2 filesystem images. Run gfs2-utils tools in a containerized or VM-isolated environment when processing untrusted images. Disable automatic fsck at boot for GFS2 filesystems until patches are applied by setting fs_passno to 0 in /etc/fstab.
Official advisory · high-confidence parse· fetched 2 hours ago·verify at source
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