diff --git a/include/uapi/linux/xattr.h b/include/uapi/linux/xattr.h
index 8a58cf4bce65..8af33d38d9e8 100644
--- a/include/uapi/linux/xattr.h
+++ b/include/uapi/linux/xattr.h
@@ -57,6 +57,9 @@
 #define XATTR_DIGEST_LIST_SUFFIX "digest_list"
 #define XATTR_NAME_DIGEST_LIST XATTR_SECURITY_PREFIX XATTR_DIGEST_LIST_SUFFIX
 
+#define XATTR_DIG_PREFETCH_SUFFIX "dig_prefetch"
+#define XATTR_NAME_DIG_PREFETCH XATTR_SECURITY_PREFIX XATTR_DIG_PREFETCH_SUFFIX
+
 #define XATTR_SELINUX_SUFFIX "selinux"
 #define XATTR_NAME_SELINUX XATTR_SECURITY_PREFIX XATTR_SELINUX_SUFFIX
 
diff --git a/security/digest_cache/dir.c b/security/digest_cache/dir.c
index 7bfcdd5f7ef1..a7d203c15386 100644
--- a/security/digest_cache/dir.c
+++ b/security/digest_cache/dir.c
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ static bool digest_cache_dir_iter(struct dir_context *__ctx, const char *name,
 	new_entry->seq_num = UINT_MAX;
 	new_entry->digest_cache = NULL;
 	mutex_init(&new_entry->digest_cache_mutex);
+	new_entry->prefetched = false;
 
 	if (new_entry->name[0] < '0' || new_entry->name[0] > '9')
 		goto out;
@@ -127,6 +128,7 @@ int digest_cache_dir_create(struct digest_cache *digest_cache,
  * @digest_cache: Digest cache
  * @digest: Digest to search
  * @algo: Algorithm of the digest to search
+ * @filename: File name of the digest list to search
  *
  * This function iterates over the linked list created by
  * digest_cache_dir_create() and looks up the digest in the digest cache of
@@ -149,7 +151,8 @@ digest_cache_dir_lookup_digest(struct dentry *dentry,
 		if (!dir_entry->digest_cache) {
 			cache = digest_cache_create(dentry, digest_list_path,
 						    digest_cache->path_str,
-						    dir_entry->name);
+						    dir_entry->name, false,
+						    false);
 			/* Ignore digest caches that cannot be instantiated. */
 			if (!cache) {
 				mutex_unlock(&dir_entry->digest_cache_mutex);
@@ -158,6 +161,8 @@ digest_cache_dir_lookup_digest(struct dentry *dentry,
 
 			/* Consume extra ref. from digest_cache_create(). */
 			dir_entry->digest_cache = cache;
+			/* Digest list was read, mark entry as prefetched. */
+			dir_entry->prefetched = true;
 		}
 		mutex_unlock(&dir_entry->digest_cache_mutex);
 
@@ -171,6 +176,54 @@ digest_cache_dir_lookup_digest(struct dentry *dentry,
 	return 0UL;
 }
 
+/**
+ * digest_cache_dir_lookup_filename - Lookup a digest list
+ * @dentry: Dentry of the file whose digest list is looked up
+ * @digest_list_path: Path structure of the digest list directory
+ * @digest_cache: Digest cache
+ * @filename: File name of the digest list to search
+ *
+ * This function iterates over the linked list created by
+ * digest_cache_dir_create() and looks up a digest list with a matching file
+ * name among the entries. If there is no match, it prefetches (reads) the
+ * current digest list. Otherwise, it returns the digest cache pointer from
+ * digest_cache_create() to the caller.
+ *
+ * Return: A digest cache pointer if the digest list if found, NULL otherwise.
+ */
+struct digest_cache *
+digest_cache_dir_lookup_filename(struct dentry *dentry,
+				 struct path *digest_list_path,
+				 struct digest_cache *digest_cache,
+				 char *filename)
+{
+	struct digest_cache *cache;
+	struct dir_entry *dir_entry;
+	bool filename_found;
+
+	list_for_each_entry(dir_entry, &digest_cache->dir_entries, list) {
+		mutex_lock(&dir_entry->digest_cache_mutex);
+		filename_found = !strcmp(dir_entry->name, filename);
+		if (!filename_found && dir_entry->prefetched) {
+			mutex_unlock(&dir_entry->digest_cache_mutex);
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		cache = digest_cache_create(dentry, digest_list_path,
+					    digest_cache->path_str,
+					    dir_entry->name, false,
+					    filename_found ? false : true);
+
+		dir_entry->prefetched = true;
+		mutex_unlock(&dir_entry->digest_cache_mutex);
+
+		if (filename_found)
+			return cache;
+	}
+
+	return NULL;
+}
+
 /**
  * digest_cache_dir_free - Free the stored file list and put digest caches
  * @digest_cache: Digest cache
diff --git a/security/digest_cache/internal.h b/security/digest_cache/internal.h
index b7afca8e04da..c13b35f6b2c0 100644
--- a/security/digest_cache/internal.h
+++ b/security/digest_cache/internal.h
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #define INIT_IN_PROGRESS	0	/* Digest cache being initialized. */
 #define INVALID			1	/* Digest cache marked as invalid. */
 #define IS_DIR			2	/* Digest cache created from dir. */
+#define DIR_PREFETCH		3	/* Prefetching requested for dir. */
 
 /**
  * struct readdir_callback - Structure to store information for dir iteration
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ struct readdir_callback {
  * @digest_cache: Digest cache associated to the directory entry
  * @digest_cache_mutex: Protects @digest_cache
  * @seq_num: Sequence number of the directory entry from file name
+ * @prefetched: Whether the digest list has been already prefetched
  * @name: File name of the directory entry
  *
  * This structure represents a directory entry with a digest cache created
@@ -47,6 +49,7 @@ struct dir_entry {
 	struct digest_cache *digest_cache;
 	struct mutex digest_cache_mutex;
 	unsigned int seq_num;
+	bool prefetched;
 	char name[];
 } __packed;
 
@@ -205,7 +208,8 @@ digest_cache_from_file_sec(const struct file *file)
 /* main.c */
 struct digest_cache *digest_cache_create(struct dentry *dentry,
 					 struct path *digest_list_path,
-					 char *path_str, char *filename);
+					 char *path_str, char *filename,
+					 bool prefetch_req, bool prefetch);
 
 /* htable.c */
 int digest_cache_htable_init(struct digest_cache *digest_cache, u64 num_digests,
@@ -236,6 +240,11 @@ digest_cache_dir_lookup_digest(struct dentry *dentry,
 			       struct path *digest_list_path,
 			       struct digest_cache *digest_cache, u8 *digest,
 			       enum hash_algo algo);
+struct digest_cache *
+digest_cache_dir_lookup_filename(struct dentry *dentry,
+				 struct path *digest_list_path,
+				 struct digest_cache *digest_cache,
+				 char *filename);
 void digest_cache_dir_free(struct digest_cache *digest_cache);
 
 #endif /* _DIGEST_CACHE_INTERNAL_H */
diff --git a/security/digest_cache/main.c b/security/digest_cache/main.c
index 15f1486610a3..a5616fd07c1d 100644
--- a/security/digest_cache/main.c
+++ b/security/digest_cache/main.c
@@ -83,6 +83,8 @@ static void digest_cache_free(struct digest_cache *digest_cache)
  * @digest_list_path: Path structure of the digest list
  * @path_str: Path string of the digest list
  * @filename: Digest list file name (can be an empty string)
+ * @prefetch_req: Whether prefetching has been requested
+ * @prefetch: Whether prefetching of a digest list is being done
  *
  * This function first locates, from the passed path, the digest list inode
  * from which the digest cache will be created or retrieved (if it already
@@ -109,7 +111,8 @@ static void digest_cache_free(struct digest_cache *digest_cache)
  */
 struct digest_cache *digest_cache_create(struct dentry *dentry,
 					 struct path *digest_list_path,
-					 char *path_str, char *filename)
+					 char *path_str, char *filename,
+					 bool prefetch_req, bool prefetch)
 {
 	struct path file_path;
 	struct digest_cache *digest_cache = NULL;
@@ -148,6 +151,16 @@ struct digest_cache *digest_cache_create(struct dentry *dentry,
 				 dentry->d_name.name);
 			goto out;
 		}
+
+		if (prefetch) {
+			/* Fine to fail, we are just prefetching. */
+			ret = digest_cache_populate(NULL, digest_list_path,
+						    path_str, filename);
+			pr_debug("Digest list %s/%s %s prefetched\n",
+				 path_str, filename,
+				 !ret ? "has been" : "cannot be");
+			goto out;
+		}
 	}
 
 	dig_sec = digest_cache_get_security(inode);
@@ -176,6 +189,11 @@ struct digest_cache *digest_cache_create(struct dentry *dentry,
 
 	/* Make the other lock contenders wait until creation complete. */
 	set_bit(INIT_IN_PROGRESS, &dig_sec->dig_owner->flags);
+
+	/* Set DIR_PREFETCH if prefetching was requested. */
+	if (prefetch_req)
+		set_bit(DIR_PREFETCH, &digest_cache->flags);
+
 	mutex_unlock(&dig_sec->dig_owner_mutex);
 
 	if (S_ISREG(inode->i_mode)) {
@@ -220,6 +238,52 @@ struct digest_cache *digest_cache_create(struct dentry *dentry,
 	return digest_cache;
 }
 
+/**
+ * digest_cache_prefetch_requested - Verify if prefetching is requested
+ * @digest_list_path: Path structure of the digest list directory
+ * @path_str: Path string of the digest list directory
+ *
+ * This function verifies whether or not digest list prefetching is requested.
+ * If dig_owner exists in the inode security blob, it checks the DIR_PREFETCH
+ * bit (faster). Otherwise, it reads the new security.dig_prefetch xattr.
+ *
+ * Return: True if prefetching is requested, false otherwise.
+ */
+static bool digest_cache_prefetch_requested(struct path *digest_list_path,
+					    char *path_str)
+{
+	struct digest_cache_security *dig_sec;
+	bool prefetch_req = false;
+	char prefetch_value;
+	struct inode *inode;
+	int ret;
+
+	inode = d_backing_inode(digest_list_path->dentry);
+	dig_sec = digest_cache_get_security(inode);
+	if (unlikely(!dig_sec))
+		return false;
+
+	mutex_lock(&dig_sec->dig_owner_mutex);
+	if (dig_sec->dig_owner) {
+		/* Reliable test: DIR_PREFETCH set with dig_owner_mutex held. */
+		prefetch_req = test_bit(DIR_PREFETCH,
+					&dig_sec->dig_owner->flags);
+		mutex_unlock(&dig_sec->dig_owner_mutex);
+		return prefetch_req;
+	}
+	mutex_unlock(&dig_sec->dig_owner_mutex);
+
+	ret = vfs_getxattr(&nop_mnt_idmap, digest_list_path->dentry,
+			   XATTR_NAME_DIG_PREFETCH, &prefetch_value, 1);
+	if (ret == 1 && prefetch_value == '1') {
+		pr_debug("Prefetching has been enabled for directory %s\n",
+			 path_str);
+		prefetch_req = true;
+	}
+
+	return prefetch_req;
+}
+
 /**
  * digest_cache_new - Retrieve digest list file name and request digest cache
  * @dentry: Dentry of the inode for which the digest cache will be used
@@ -230,13 +294,19 @@ struct digest_cache *digest_cache_create(struct dentry *dentry,
  * with that file name. If security.digest_list is not found, this function
  * requests the creation of a digest cache on the parent directory.
  *
+ * On prefetching, if the default path is a directory and if
+ * security.digest_list is found, this function first retrieves the directory
+ * digest cache, and then calls digest_cache_dir_lookup_filename() to retrieve
+ * the desired digest cache in that directory.
+ *
  * Return: A new digest cache on success, NULL on error.
  */
 static struct digest_cache *digest_cache_new(struct dentry *dentry)
 {
 	char filename[NAME_MAX + 1] = { 0 };
-	struct digest_cache *digest_cache = NULL;
+	struct digest_cache *digest_cache = NULL, *found;
 	struct path default_path;
+	bool prefetch_req = false;
 	int ret;
 
 	ret = kern_path(default_path_str, 0, &default_path);
@@ -273,9 +343,28 @@ static struct digest_cache *digest_cache_new(struct dentry *dentry)
 	pr_debug("Found %s xattr in %s, default path: %s, digest list: %s\n",
 		 XATTR_NAME_DIGEST_LIST, dentry->d_name.name, default_path_str,
 		 filename);
+
+	if (filename[0])
+		prefetch_req = digest_cache_prefetch_requested(&default_path,
+							default_path_str);
 create:
+	/* On prefetching, retrieve the directory digest cache. */
 	digest_cache = digest_cache_create(dentry, &default_path,
-					   default_path_str, filename);
+					   default_path_str,
+					   !prefetch_req ? filename : "",
+					   prefetch_req, false);
+	if (!digest_cache)
+		goto out;
+
+	if (prefetch_req) {
+		/* Find the digest cache with a matching file name. */
+		found = digest_cache_dir_lookup_filename(dentry, &default_path,
+							 digest_cache,
+							 filename);
+		/* Release ref. to the directory digest cache. */
+		digest_cache_put(digest_cache);
+		digest_cache = found;
+	}
 out:
 	path_put(&default_path);
 	return digest_cache;
diff --git a/security/digest_cache/populate.c b/security/digest_cache/populate.c
index 9c2fc2295310..17e7b011c367 100644
--- a/security/digest_cache/populate.c
+++ b/security/digest_cache/populate.c
@@ -143,6 +143,12 @@ int digest_cache_populate(struct digest_cache *digest_cache,
 		return ret;
 	}
 
+	/* The caller wants just to read digest lists. */
+	if (!digest_cache) {
+		ret = 0;
+		goto out_vfree;
+	}
+
 	data_len = digest_cache_strip_modsig(data, ret);
 
 	/* Digest list parsers initialize the hash table and add the digests. */
@@ -151,7 +157,7 @@ int digest_cache_populate(struct digest_cache *digest_cache,
 	if (ret < 0)
 		pr_debug("Error parsing digest list %s%s%s, ret: %d\n",
 			 path_str, filename[0] ? "/" : "", filename, ret);
-
+out_vfree:
 	vfree(data);
 	return ret;
 }
diff --git a/security/digest_cache/verif.c b/security/digest_cache/verif.c
index 04023240d3b4..c42ae93261e2 100644
--- a/security/digest_cache/verif.c
+++ b/security/digest_cache/verif.c
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ static void free_verif(struct digest_cache_verif *verif)
  * This function lets a verifier supply verification data about a digest list
  * being read to populate the digest cache.
  *
- * Return: Zero on success, -ENOMEM if out of memory.
+ * Return: Zero on success, -ENOMEM if out of memory, -ENOENT on prefetching.
  */
 int digest_cache_verif_set(struct file *file, const char *verif_id, void *data,
 			   size_t size)
@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@ int digest_cache_verif_set(struct file *file, const char *verif_id, void *data,
 	struct digest_cache *digest_cache = digest_cache_from_file_sec(file);
 	struct digest_cache_verif *new_verif;
 
+	if (!digest_cache)
+		return -ENOENT;
+
 	/*
 	 * All allocations must be atomic (non-sleepable) since kprobe does not
 	 * allow otherwise (kprobe is needed for testing).
