CVE-2025-71265

Kernel hang via zero-progress NTFS run loading

Published Mar 18, 2026 · Updated Mar 18, 2026

Infinite loop in Linux Kernel ntfs3 allows local users to hang the kernel by accessing directory data on a malformed NTFS image. run_unpack returns success for an empty run list without initializing runs_tree, while attr_load_runs_range treats that result as loaded data and repeatedly advances vcn by zero after failed lookups. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access to the crafted mounted filesystem; the resulting loop interrupts kernel or filesystem availability.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.12%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Infinite loop in Linux Kernel ntfs3 allows local users to hang the kernel by accessing directory data on a malformed NTFS image. run_unpack returns success for an empty run list without initializing runs_tree, while attr_load_runs_range treats that result as loaded data and repeatedly advances vcn by zero after failed lookups. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access to the crafted mounted filesystem; the resulting loop interrupts kernel or filesystem availability.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-71265
Published
Mar 18, 2026
Updated
Mar 18, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-835, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 18, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 18, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=5.15
  2. Affected versionversion=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <3c3a6e951b9b53dab2ac460a655313cf04c4a10a
  3. Affected versionversion=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <4b90f16e4bb5607fb35e7802eb67874038da4640
  4. Affected versionversion=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <6f07a590616ff5f57f7c041d98e463fad9e9f763
  5. Affected versionversion=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <78b61f7eac37a63284774b147f38dd0be6cad43c
  6. Affected versionversion=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <a89bc96d5abd8a4a8d5d911884ea347efcdf460b
  7. Affected versionversion=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <af839013c70a24779f9d1afb1575952009312d38
  8. Affected versionversion=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <c0b43c45d45f59e7faad48675a50231a210c379b

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=5.15; version=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <3c3a6e951b9b53dab2ac460a655313cf04c4a10a; version=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <4b90f16e4bb5607fb35e7802eb67874038da4640; version=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <6f07a590616ff5f57f7c041d98e463fad9e9f763; version=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <78b61f7eac37a63284774b147f38dd0be6cad43c; version=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <a89bc96d5abd8a4a8d5d911884ea347efcdf460b; version=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <af839013c70a24779f9d1afb1575952009312d38; version=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <c0b43c45d45f59e7faad48675a50231a210c379b

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-835Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop')
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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