---
id: CVE-2026-74321
title: >-
  kernel: btrfs: fix invalid pointer dereference in __btrfs_run_delayed_refs()
  (CVE-2026-74321)
summary: >-
  A flaw was found in the btrfs file system component of the Linux kernel. This
  vulnerability occurs in the `__btrfs_run_delayed_refs()` function when an
  error condition is not properly handled, leading to an invalid pointer
  dereference. A l…
severity: medium
cvss: 5.5
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'
cvssSource: vendor
cwe: CWE-476
vendor: Red Hat
product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
affected:
  - enterprise_linux 10
  - enterprise_linux 6
published: '2026-08-15'
updated: '2026-10-16'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-16T23:15:26+00:00'
source: CSAF
sourceUrl: 'https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-74321.json'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-74321.json
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-74321'
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2516808'
  - url: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-74321'
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-74321'
  - url: >-
      https://lore.kernel.org/linux-cve-announce/2026081553-CVE-2026-74321-a221@gregkh/T
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c372ca227e16bace86f1df1fa4ae6849e2fcfa28'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a71143590ce9764dbcb47617647592ff8b4d48bc'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/65770111a2d47c2b15e20b2ba92bb12198f289d4'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/015dc4a1e0c2cba551d4620eba13d26d5081dc34'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ba9fa2ff5981589bb49094d3358c339b37c47f53'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3b15d02be05e74321adb1e0ae0cb4ccfba7c6cb1'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9faa6b69ad73f03c7bde53e07d75a28822dc9a1a'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/486f8298b6188ff11ef1f4be7f1d5d2e4d1b1fae'
tags:
  - csaf
  - vex
  - red-hat
  - cve.org
  - score-dispute
epss: 0.00716
epssPercentile: 0.52866
ssvc:
  exploitation: none
  automatable: 'yes'
  technicalImpact: partial
  timestamp: '2026-10-16T18:53:22.742693Z'
scores:
  vendor: 5.5
  cna: 7.5
ingestedAt: '2026-10-16T19:46:24.379Z'
---

## Overview

A flaw was found in the btrfs file system component of the Linux kernel. This vulnerability occurs in the `__btrfs_run_delayed_refs()` function when an error condition is not properly handled, leading to an invalid pointer dereference. A local attacker could potentially exploit this flaw to cause a system crash, resulting in a Denial of Service (DoS).

## Vendor advisories

- **Red Hat VEX** · Moderate · affected: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 · no fix planned: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 · updated 2026-10-16 · [vex](https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-74321.json)

**kernel: btrfs: fix invalid pointer dereference in __btrfs_run_delayed_refs()** — rated Moderate by Red Hat. Released 2026-08-15, updated 2026-10-16.

Affected:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6

No fix planned:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10

Not affected:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9

## Remediation

Out of support scope

Workarounds / mitigations:

- Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base, or stability.