Linux Kernel Ext4 Transaction Issue Affecting Boot Process

CVE-2026-98885

What is CVE-2026-98885?

This vulnerability occurs during the early boot process of systems using the Linux kernel with ext4 filesystems. It arises when attempts to change extended attributes (xattrs) are made in a read-only filesystem state. The issue is characterized by a failure that triggers a warning when xattr modifications are initiated, which leads to a disrupted boot sequence. Early detection and error reporting are recommended to improve system reliability during startup.

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