Kernel misbehavior via unvalidated NTFS MFT references
Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026
Improper validation in the Linux kernel 7.1.0 through 7.1.4 allows attackers to trigger kernel misbehavior via a crafted NTFS image. ntfs_lookup_inode_by_name() returns an error-marked MFT reference without validating its attacker-controlled low bits, and callers decode those bits as a pseudo-errno. The image must be processed by affected NTFS code; the documented result is bogus error handling, while Red Hat bounds the consequence to instability or denial of service.
Summary
What happened
Improper validation in the Linux kernel 7.1.0 through 7.1.4 allows attackers to trigger kernel misbehavior via a crafted NTFS image. ntfs_lookup_inode_by_name() returns an error-marked MFT reference without validating its attacker-controlled low bits, and callers decode those bits as a pseudo-errno. The image must be processed by affected NTFS code; the documented result is bogus error handling, while Red Hat bounds the consequence to instability or denial of service.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-72188
- Published
- Aug 15, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 15, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- CWE-252
- Attack vector
- Unavailable
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 15, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 15, 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?
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- Affected versionversion=1e9ea7e04472d4e5e12e58c881eaacfb3e49b669 <83f396d881c4fd312c7fd5fff2c157fc21104464
- Affected versionversion=1e9ea7e04472d4e5e12e58c881eaacfb3e49b669 <d97a36bae86a9a4021562ded2987f904e6bcb1d7
- Affected versionversion=7.1
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Attacks
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Your stack
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