CVE-2021-35268

Privileged code execution via malformed inode metadata

Published Sep 7, 2021 · Updated Jul 9, 2026

Heap buffer overflow in NTFS-3G before 2021.8.22 allows local users to execute privileged code by loading a crafted NTFS inode. The ntfs_inode_real_open function inadequately validates inode metadata and writes beyond a heap allocation while opening the crafted inode. Exploitation requires local access to a setuid-root ntfs-3g binary, or physical access to insert storage into a system configured to process it.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.47%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Heap buffer overflow in NTFS-3G before 2021.8.22 allows local users to execute privileged code by loading a crafted NTFS inode. The ntfs_inode_real_open function inadequately validates inode metadata and writes beyond a heap allocation while opening the crafted inode. Exploitation requires local access to a setuid-root ntfs-3g binary, or physical access to insert storage into a system configured to process it.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-35268
Published
Sep 7, 2021
Updated
Jul 9, 2026
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-20, CWE-787, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 7, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jul 9, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.9NIST NVDAV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
6.7CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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