CVE-2026-72197

Kernel crash via oversized NTFS index entry

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Out-of-bounds write in the Linux kernel allows local users to crash the kernel by mounting a crafted NTFS image containing a bad index entry. In fs/ntfs3 do_action(), an unchecked INDEX_BUFFER entry size produces a negative pointer difference that memmove converts to a huge unsigned length and copies beyond the destination buffer. Exploitation requires the ability to mount the crafted image, and the demonstrated consequence is a kernel oops that interrupts the host.

CVSS severity8.4
High
EPSS probability0.18%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Out-of-bounds write in the Linux kernel allows local users to crash the kernel by mounting a crafted NTFS image containing a bad index entry. In fs/ntfs3 do_action(), an unchecked INDEX_BUFFER entry size produces a negative pointer difference that memmove converts to a huge unsigned length and copies beyond the destination buffer. Exploitation requires the ability to mount the crafted image, and the demonstrated consequence is a kernel oops that interrupts the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72197
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-787, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 15, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=5.15
  2. Affected versionversion=b46acd6a6a627d876898e1c84d3f84902264b445 <09fddd52c1b0cef2c086d61be8f3d5dc92e36565
  3. Affected versionversion=b46acd6a6a627d876898e1c84d3f84902264b445 <4c8aac931c1cd70347961ba5157aa916448c6a25
  4. Affected versionversion=b46acd6a6a627d876898e1c84d3f84902264b445 <554700c65d398276cb00a8ef95f1d5e00b9eff93
  5. Affected versionversion=b46acd6a6a627d876898e1c84d3f84902264b445 <b509b9613f20dc5b653d54bf78fab00d79cc43c8
  6. Affected versionversion=b46acd6a6a627d876898e1c84d3f84902264b445 <c38ed2ab62fab75fd6d0fdc2bee540fbebc7b959
  7. Affected versionversion=b46acd6a6a627d876898e1c84d3f84902264b445 <f383aae59ec3994c14804f4191c59038b206be81
  8. Affected versionversion=b46acd6a6a627d876898e1c84d3f84902264b445 <fc4626bb3656362de8b0ecd56605d47a19ec3518

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.15; version=b46acd6a6a627d876898e1c84d3f84902264b445 <09fddd52c1b0cef2c086d61be8f3d5dc92e36565; version=b46acd6a6a627d876898e1c84d3f84902264b445 <4c8aac931c1cd70347961ba5157aa916448c6a25; version=b46acd6a6a627d876898e1c84d3f84902264b445 <554700c65d398276cb00a8ef95f1d5e00b9eff93; version=b46acd6a6a627d876898e1c84d3f84902264b445 <b509b9613f20dc5b653d54bf78fab00d79cc43c8; version=b46acd6a6a627d876898e1c84d3f84902264b445 <c38ed2ab62fab75fd6d0fdc2bee540fbebc7b959; version=b46acd6a6a627d876898e1c84d3f84902264b445 <f383aae59ec3994c14804f4191c59038b206be81; version=b46acd6a6a627d876898e1c84d3f84902264b445 <fc4626bb3656362de8b0ecd56605d47a19ec3518

Published CVSS scores

8.4kernel.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

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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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
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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