Vulnerability · CVE-2026-46160
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: fix missing last_unlink_trans update when removing a directory When removing a directory we…
Published May 28, 2026 · corrected/updated Jun 19, 2026 · linux linux kernel · evidence confidence medium
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: fix missing last_unlink_trans update when removing a directory When removing a directory we are not updating its last_unlink_trans field, which can result in incorrect fsync behaviour in case some one fsyncs the directory after it was removed because it's holding a file descriptor on it. Example scenario: mkdir /mnt/dir1 mkdir /mnt/dir1/dir2 mkdir /mnt/dir3 sync -f /mnt # Do some change to the directory and fsync it. chmod 700 /mnt/dir1 xfs_io -c fsync /mnt/dir1 # Move dir2 out of dir1 so that dir1 becomes empty. mv /mnt/dir1/dir2 /mnt/dir3/ open fd on /mnt/dir1 call rmdir(2) on path "/mnt/dir1" fsync fd When attempting to mount the filesystem, the log replay will fail with an -EIO error and dmesg/syslog has the following: [445771.626482] BTRFS info (device dm-0): first mount of filesystem 0368bbea-6c5e-44b5-b409-09abe496e650 [445771.626486] BTRFS info (device dm-0): using crc32c checksum algorithm [445771.627912] BTRFS info (device dm-0): start tree-log replay [445771.628335] page: refcount:2 mapcount:0 mapping:0000000061443ddc index:0x1d00 pfn:0x7072a5 [445771.629453] memcg:ffff89f400351b00 [445771.629892] aops:btree_aops [btrfs] ino:1 [445771.630737] flags: 0x17fffc00000402a(uptodate|lru|private|writeback|node=0|zone=2|lastcpupid=0x1ffff) [445771.632359] raw: 017fffc00000402a fffff47284d950c8 fffff472907b7c08 ffff89f458e412b8 [445771.633713] raw: 0000000000001d00 ffff89f6c51d1a90 00000002ffffffff ffff89f400351b00 [445771.635029] page dumped because: eb page dump [445771.635825] BTRFS critical (device dm-0): corrupt leaf: root=5 block=30408704 slot=10 ino=258, invalid nlink: has 2 expect no more than 1 for dir [445771.638088] BTRFS info (device dm-0): leaf 30408704 gen 10 total ptrs 17 free space 14878 owner 5 [445771.638091] BTRFS info (device dm-0): refs 4 lock_owner 0 current 3581087 [445771.638094] item 0 key (256 INODE_ITEM 0) itemoff 16123 itemsize 160 [445771.638097] inode generation
Grounded briefings
Catalog interpretations for three audiences. Each brief cites ingested metadata and the original advisories below. They are not independent research and they do not invent exploit steps.
Executive
CVE-2026-46160 is a medium public vulnerability record for linux linux kernel. It is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited catalog. Check the linked vendor or CERT advisories for patch status. This summary is a catalog interpretation of the ingested metadata and cites the original advisories below.
System administrator
Identify whether linux linux kernel is in your estate, then compare installed versions with the affected ranges. Affected packages or ranges on record: linux/linux kernel; linux/linux kernel (7.1). Check the linked vendor or CERT advisories for patch status. Prefer the vendor or distribution advisory linked in Sources before changing production systems. This is a catalog interpretation, not a runbook.
Security analyst
Signals on file: CVSS 5.5, EPSS 0.1%. It is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited catalog. Sources contributing to this record: epss, nvd. Public exploit references, when present, are outbound links only and are not proof of active exploitation. This is a catalog interpretation of stored metadata.
Exploitation and remediation
Exploitation evidence
Not listed as known exploited in CISA KEV. Not in CISA KEV or VulnCheck KEV.
Patch and remediation
No required-action text is stored yet. Use the vendor or CERT links in Sources for patch availability.
Safe detection guidance
Compare installed versions with the affected ranges below and verify the advisory from the original publisher. This site stores metadata and outbound links only; it does not ship exploit code or proof-of-concept payloads.
Code
The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.
Timeline
Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.
May 28, 2026 · NIST NVD
Detected
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: fix missing last_unlink_trans update when removing a directory When removing a directory we are not updating its last_unlink_trans field, which can result in incorrect fsync behaviour in case some one fsyncs the directory after it was removed because it's holding a file descriptor on it. Example scenario: mkdir /mnt/dir1 mk
Jun 19, 2026 · NIST NVD
Updated
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: fix missing last_unlink_trans update when removing a directory When removing a directory we are not updating its last_unlink_trans field, which can result in incorrect fsync behaviour in case some one fsyncs the directory after it was removed because it's holding a file descriptor on it. Example scenario: mkdir /mnt/dir1 mk
Affected
- cpe linux/linux kernelversion unspecified
- cpe linux/linux kernel7.1
Sources
- FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2026-46160
30-day exploitation probability 0.1%
first.org - NIST NVDVulnerability recordCVE-2026-46160
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: fix missing last_unlink_trans update when removing a directory When removing a directory we are not updating its last_unlink_trans field, which can result in incorrect fsync behaviour in case some one fs
nvd.nist.gov