CVE-2026-72203Network attack vector

System-wide I/O hang via inverted writeback locks

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Deadlock in Linux NTFS writeback allows remote attackers with share write access to hang system-wide I/O on affected kernels. Concurrent inode writeback takes extent_lock before an extent mrec_lock, while MFT folio writeback retains an mrec_lock before requesting extent_lock. Reachability requires concurrent writes to a read-write NTFS volume on Linux 2.6.12 through 6.8 or 7.1 through 7.1.4.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.58%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Deadlock in Linux NTFS writeback allows remote attackers with share write access to hang system-wide I/O on affected kernels. Concurrent inode writeback takes extent_lock before an extent mrec_lock, while MFT folio writeback retains an mrec_lock before requesting extent_lock. Reachability requires concurrent writes to a read-write NTFS volume on Linux 2.6.12 through 6.8 or 7.1 through 7.1.4.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72203
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499.004
Attack vector
network
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=0 <7.1.5
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <76bc14c7097ff678b2b5dbfd4fa33b46897d87ce
  3. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <f831ab09d521898bf1dd99bf5adfd630ea1428e3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=0 <7.1.5; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <76bc14c7097ff678b2b5dbfd4fa33b46897d87ce; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <f831ab09d521898bf1dd99bf5adfd630ea1428e3

Published CVSS scores

7.5LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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