CVE-2026-90132

Local root escalation via reserved NTFS attributes

Published Sep 17, 2026 · Updated Sep 18, 2026

Privilege escalation in Linux 7.1 through 7.2.5 allows local users to gain root privileges through reserved NTFS extended attributes. The ntfs_setxattr() path accepts attacker-controlled $LXUID and $LXMOD values without a capability check, and inode reload applies them as UID 0 and set-user-ID mode. Exploitation requires write access to a file on an already mounted writable NTFS volume; no race or action by another user is required.

CVSS severity7.1
High
EPSS probability0.16%
Next 30 days · Oct 19, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in Linux 7.1 through 7.2.5 allows local users to gain root privileges through reserved NTFS extended attributes. The ntfs_setxattr() path accepts attacker-controlled $LXUID and $LXMOD values without a capability check, and inode reload applies them as UID 0 and set-user-ID mode. Exploitation requires write access to a file on an already mounted writable NTFS volume; no race or action by another user is required.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-90132
Published
Sep 17, 2026
Updated
Sep 18, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 17, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 18, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=7.1
  2. Affected versionversion=fc053f05ca282a5e760b41f6560ac835c4e28037 <86f46508016bc1f2bffb3a52dc2664f942fb9802
  3. Affected versionversion=fc053f05ca282a5e760b41f6560ac835c4e28037 <ea6a67ef64451d2da298f15baa35865b4bb6372a

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=7.1; version=fc053f05ca282a5e760b41f6560ac835c4e28037 <86f46508016bc1f2bffb3a52dc2664f942fb9802; version=fc053f05ca282a5e760b41f6560ac835c4e28037 <ea6a67ef64451d2da298f15baa35865b4bb6372a

Published CVSS scores

7.1Linux CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

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.

Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.

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

No observations available

Sep 22, 2026Sep 28, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 28, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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