Kernel compromise via malformed NTFS extended attributes
Published Dec 24, 2025 · Updated Dec 24, 2025
Memory corruption in the Linux kernel ntfs3 driver allows local users to compromise the kernel through malformed extended attributes. ntfs_read_ea returns success with a null buffer after detecting an inconsistent on-disk EA layout, so ntfs_set_ea performs attacker-controlled out-of-bounds reads and writes from an undersized allocation. Exploitation requires a crafted NTFS volume mounted read-write and an ordinary local account able to set a user extended attribute; consequences include kernel-memory disclosure, control-flow corruption, and a system crash.
Summary
What happened
Memory corruption in the Linux kernel ntfs3 driver allows local users to compromise the kernel through malformed extended attributes. ntfs_read_ea returns success with a null buffer after detecting an inconsistent on-disk EA layout, so ntfs_set_ea performs attacker-controlled out-of-bounds reads and writes from an undersized allocation. Exploitation requires a crafted NTFS volume mounted read-write and an ordinary local account able to set a user extended attribute; consequences include kernel-memory disclosure, control-flow corruption, and a system crash.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-54125
- Published
- Dec 24, 2025
- Updated
- Dec 24, 2025
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 24, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Dec 24, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <1474098b590a426d90f27bb992f17c326e0b60c1
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <c9db0ff04649aa0b45f497183c957fe260f229f6
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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