Kernel memory disclosure via unzeroed decompression tail
Published Sep 11, 2026 · Updated Sep 11, 2026
Information disclosure in Linux kernel ntfs3 allows local users to read uninitialized kernel memory via a crafted compressed NTFS file. In ni_read_frame(), decompress_lznt() can return fewer bytes than the frame size, but the unwritten tail is marked current and returned without being zeroed. Reading an attacker-crafted compressed file on a mounted NTFS volume exposes recently freed kernel page contents, including pointers that defeat KASLR.
Summary
What happened
Information disclosure in Linux kernel ntfs3 allows local users to read uninitialized kernel memory via a crafted compressed NTFS file. In ni_read_frame(), decompress_lznt() can return fewer bytes than the frame size, but the unwritten tail is marked current and returned without being zeroed. Reading an attacker-crafted compressed file on a mounted NTFS volume exposes recently freed kernel page contents, including pointers that defeat KASLR.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-89616
- Published
- Sep 11, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 11, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1005
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 11, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Sep 11, 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=4342306f0f0d5ff4315a204d315c1b51b914fca5 <0f699ddb290a24b37e1bc9bf1e3c9dbccf564bea
- Affected versionversion=4342306f0f0d5ff4315a204d315c1b51b914fca5 <35d1ea92c7d946e2ebdbe36cdb2c969c8704bebd
- Affected versionversion=4342306f0f0d5ff4315a204d315c1b51b914fca5 <376ee45659a4b943df672ad275c63da00655f929
- Affected versionversion=4342306f0f0d5ff4315a204d315c1b51b914fca5 <4a1b39b2e10eb8de86265e80cf2be4396bc1dce4
- Affected versionversion=5.15
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
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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