ext2: Fix lost inode updates for IS_SYNC inodes

Answer in brief

CVE-2026-89601 records a Unknown severity vulnerability in ext2: Fix lost inode updates for IS_SYNC inodes. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. The current feed maps Linux/Linux (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Analysis pending evidence review

HOL Guard separates source facts from reviewed analysis. See the methodology.

Published Sep 11, 2026Updated Sep 11, 2026Source checked Sep 11, 2026First seen by HOL Sep 11, 2026Material review Sep 11, 2026

Upstream Advisory

Key facts

Risk: Unknown severitySource severity not reported
Exploitation: Not marked as known exploited
Affected software: 1 mapped package or product
Fix availability: Available

Why this deserves its current priority

A CVSS score is not reported in the current record. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. Treat this as a source-backed prioritization signal, not a statement about your environment.

Analysis status

Analysis pending evidence review

Factual feed record only; HOL analysis is not approved for indexing. Read the methodology.

Affected scope and exposure questions

The current feed maps Linux/Linux (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Mapped affected packages and fixed versions
Package	Affected range	Fixed version
Linux/Linuxgeneric	>=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <5efb3350230fef831167740e69e6db2861101186 \|\| >=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <356984d1a5c32e94810cbb6c8dc7d8ff2d4d919a \|\| >=0 <7.2.4	5efb3350230fef831167740e69e6db2861101186, 356984d1a5c32e94810cbb6c8dc7d8ff2d4d919a, 7.2.4

Recommended response

Check inventory. Check lockfiles and deployed manifests for Linux/Linux.
Review the reported fix. Update Linux/Linux to 5efb3350230fef831167740e69e6db2861101186 if you use the affected versions. Test the change in a non-production environment first.

Evidence timeline and material changes

Published upstream
Sep 11, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
Source modified
Sep 11, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
First seen by HOL
Sep 11, 2026

Sources and claim methodology

Upstream source description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext2: Fix lost inode updates for IS_SYNC inodes ext2_setsize() and ext2_xattr_set2() had a construct like: if (IS_SYNC(inode)) { sync_inode_metadata(inode, 1); } else { mark_inode_dirty(inode); } which leads to lost inode updates for IS_SYNC inodes because sync_inode_metadata() does anything only if the inode is already dirty and hence inode updates may be simply lost. Fix the problem by unconditionally marking the inode dirty and *then* call sync_inode_metadata().

Quoted source text, attributed separately from HOL analysis.