data journal

About this tag
The data journal tag on WindowsForum.com covers discussions about the ext4 filesystem's data=journal mode, particularly in the context of Linux kernel security and stability. A recent thread details CVE-2025-38220, a vulnerability that could cause a kernel crash when ext4 processes orphaned symlink inodes in data journal mode. The fix involves marking folios dirty only for regular files. This tag is relevant for system administrators and IT professionals managing Linux servers or cloud images who need to understand the implications of data journaling on filesystem integrity and apply timely kernel updates to prevent availability-focused exploits.

  1. CVE-2025-38220: Tiny ext4 patch prevents kernel crash in data=journal mode

    A small, surgical kernel fix landed upstream in mid‑2025 to close a robustness hole in ext4 that could produce a NULL-pointer kernel oops and system crash when the filesystem processed certain orphaned symlink inodes; the patch makes ext4 mark folios dirty only for regular files when running in...