Linux Kernel up to 7.1.4 OCFS2 ocfs2_validate_inode_block i_mode input validation

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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8.0$0-$5k0.98

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as very critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.1.4. This vulnerability affects the function ocfs2_validate_inode_block of the component OCFS2. Such manipulation of the argument i_mode leads to input validation. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-72160. The attack can be launched remotely. No exploit exists.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as very critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 7.1.4. Affected by this issue is the function ocfs2_validate_inode_block of the component OCFS2. The manipulation of the argument i_mode with an unknown input leads to a input validation vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-20. The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ocfs2: reject dinodes with non-canonical i_mode type Patch series "ocfs2: harden inode validators against forged metadata", v2. This series adds three structural checks to OCFS2 dinode validation so malformed on-disk fields are rejected before ocfs2_populate_inode() copies them into the in-core inode. The checks cover: - i_mode values whose type bits do not name a canonical POSIX file type; - non-device dinodes whose id1.dev1.i_rdev field is non-zero; and - non-inline dinodes that claim non-zero i_size while i_clusters is zero, covering directories unconditionally and regular files on non-sparse volumes. The normal read path reports these through ocfs2_error(), matching the existing suballoc-slot, inline-data, chain-list, and refcount checks. The online filecheck path uses the same structural predicates but keeps its own reporting contract, returning OCFS2_FILECHECK_ERR_INVALIDINO instead of calling ocfs2_error(). This patch (of 3): ocfs2_validate_inode_block() currently accepts any non-zero i_mode value. ocfs2_populate_inode() then copies that mode verbatim into inode->i_mode and dispatches on i_mode & S_IFMT to the file/dir/symlink/special_file iops; an unrecognised type falls through to ocfs2_special_file_iops and init_special_inode(). Reject dinodes whose type bits do not name one of the seven canonical POSIX file types. Use fs_umode_to_ftype(), the same generic file-type conversion helper OCFS2 already uses for directory entries, so the accepted inode type set matches the kernel file-type vocabulary instead of open-coding a local switch. Apply the same structural check to the online filecheck read path. filecheck keeps its own error namespace, so it reports malformed i_mode through the filecheck logger and OCFS2_FILECHECK_ERR_INVALIDINO instead of calling ocfs2_error(), but it must not allow a malformed dinode to proceed into ocfs2_populate_inode().

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-72160 since 08/09/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be launched remotely. Additional levels of successful authentication are required for exploitation. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 08/15/2026).

Upgrading to version 5.10.261, 5.15.212, 6.1.178, 6.6.145, 6.12.97, 6.18.40, 7.1.5 or 7.2-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 2e3aac33988ef4e4170141db8e995693ea38357c/fb024ea29f6cb1f01745e5f2e31646f3acb9aa6f/157d31ef45038d89cd19620105e082d43c8e41e0/a5b555bcabbb0aff8745ad181768eaf9d964c1ee/82afe13558354390d8a592a5334d5f4fd72c0e5c/4db3b6a2a8ecf2a89d26a4090ace4072c6fad050/b858f2d57cfc9d57ce61b86051d603dc0ebccd40/5366a017099c6a3c443be908a05f26fd72af12a1 is able to eliminate this problem.

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Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 8.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 8.0

VulDB Base Score: 8.4
VulDB Temp Score: 8.0
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Input validation
CWE: CWE-20
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.10.261/5.15.212/6.1.178/6.6.145/6.12.97/6.18.40/7.1.5/7.2-rc1
Patch: 2e3aac33988ef4e4170141db8e995693ea38357c/fb024ea29f6cb1f01745e5f2e31646f3acb9aa6f/157d31ef45038d89cd19620105e082d43c8e41e0/a5b555bcabbb0aff8745ad181768eaf9d964c1ee/82afe13558354390d8a592a5334d5f4fd72c0e5c/4db3b6a2a8ecf2a89d26a4090ace4072c6fad050/b858f2d57cfc9d57ce61b86051d603dc0ebccd40/5366a017099c6a3c443be908a05f26fd72af12a1

Timelineinfo

08/09/2026 CVE reserved
08/15/2026 +6 days Advisory disclosed
08/15/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
08/15/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-72160 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-72160
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-390602

Entryinfo

Created: 08/15/2026 13:14
Changes: 08/15/2026 13:14 (60)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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