# CVE-2026-71220: gfs2-utils stack buffer overflow in gfs2_edit

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-71220-gfs2-utils-stack-buffer-overflow-in-gfs2-edit  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-09-03. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-71220 · Severity: high · CVSS 7 · Published 2026-09-03

gfs2-utils is a utility for managing GFS2 (Global File System 2) filesystem images, often used by system administrators. A flaw in the gfs2_edit tool allows attackers to trigger a stack buffer overflow by crafting a malicious GFS2 filesystem image with a specially crafted inode metadata field. An administrator who processes such an image could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with their privileges.

Technologies: [Red Hat Gfs2-Utils](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/gfs2-utils). Vendors: [Red Hat](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/red-hat).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-71220 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-71220 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-71220?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7, published 3 September 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Red Hat gfs2-utils.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-71220?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-71220 attacked?** It is attacked with local access.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-71220?** Check whether you run Red Hat Gfs2-Utils. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

The vulnerability is a stack out-of-bounds write (CWE-787) in gfs2_edit, where the di_height field from on-disk GFS2 inode metadata is used as an array index without bounds checking. This causes a controlled stack buffer overflow that can corrupt the stack, including return addresses. An attacker can craft a malicious GFS2 filesystem image to trigger the overflow. Exploitation requires local access and user interaction (an administrator must run gfs2_edit on the crafted image). The kernel GFS2 driver is not affected because it validates di_height against sd_max_height, but userspace tools are vulnerable. System hardening features (stack-protector, PIE, ASLR) provide partial mitigation but do not prevent exploitation.

## Affected products

- Red Hat gfs2-utils

## Timeline

- 2026-09-03: disclosed

## References

- [https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/](https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/)
- [https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-71220](https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-71220)

## Related threats

- [gfs2-utils heap out-of-bounds read in extended attributes](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-71222-gfs2-utils-heap-out-of-bounds-read-in-extended-attributes)
- [gfs2-utils stack buffer overflow in savemeta](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-71221-gfs2-utils-stack-buffer-overflow-in-savemeta)