Kernel-thread hang via zero-sized ATTR_LIST
Published Mar 18, 2026 · Updated Mar 18, 2026
Infinite loop in ntfs3 in affected Linux Kernel releases allows local users to hang a kernel thread by mounting a malformed NTFS image. ntfs_load_attr_list() allocates for a resident zero-length ATTR_LIST, leaving a zero size with a non-null list pointer; ni_enum_attr_ex() then reloads the list and restarts enumeration indefinitely. Exploitation requires local access and the ability to submit a crafted filesystem image for mounting; the mount never completes and its kernel thread remains hung.
Summary
What happened
Infinite loop in ntfs3 in affected Linux Kernel releases allows local users to hang a kernel thread by mounting a malformed NTFS image. ntfs_load_attr_list() allocates for a resident zero-length ATTR_LIST, leaving a zero size with a non-null list pointer; ni_enum_attr_ex() then reloads the list and restarts enumeration indefinitely. Exploitation requires local access and the ability to submit a crafted filesystem image for mounting; the mount never completes and its kernel thread remains hung.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-71267
- 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
- Mar 18, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=5.15
- Affected versionversion=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <06909b2549d631a47fcda249d34be26f7ca1711d
- Affected versionversion=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <7ef219656febf5ae06ae56b1fce47ebd05f92b68
- Affected versionversion=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <8d8c70b57dbeda3eb165c0940b97e85373ca9354
- Affected versionversion=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <9267d99fade76d44d4a133599524031fe684156e
- Affected versionversion=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <976e6a7c51fabf150478decbe8ef5d9a26039b7c
- Affected versionversion=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <9779a6eaaabdf47aa57910d352b398ad742e6a5f
- Affected versionversion=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <fd508939dbca5eceefb2d0c2564beb15469572f2
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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