CVE-2026-72211Network attack vector

Directory corruption via premature index-root size update

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Out-of-bounds writes in the Linux NTFS driver before 7.1.5 allow attackers to corrupt directory metadata through file operations. ntfs_ir_reparent() publishes enlarged index_length and allocated_size fields before growing the resident value, leaving an out-of-bounds layout when resizing fails. Reachability requires a read-write NTFS volume and permission to create or link files; the failed reparent can leave directories unusable.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.52%
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 writes in the Linux NTFS driver before 7.1.5 allow attackers to corrupt directory metadata through file operations. ntfs_ir_reparent() publishes enlarged index_length and allocated_size fields before growing the resident value, leaving an out-of-bounds layout when resizing fails. Reachability requires a read-write NTFS volume and permission to create or link files; the failed reparent can leave directories unusable.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72211
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-787, CWE-120, T1499
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 <0bb508fb3b97e4802ec727fd2af4d608f65dd190
  3. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <38d444271604afc6381ddb5a181e391915c35fae

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=0 <7.1.5; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <0bb508fb3b97e4802ec727fd2af4d608f65dd190; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <38d444271604afc6381ddb5a181e391915c35fae

Published CVSS scores

9.8Linux CNACVSS:3.1/AV:N/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

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
CWE-120Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
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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