Linux Kernel up to 7.1.4 ntfs dir.c ntfs_inode_sync_standard_information non_resident improper synchronization

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as very critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.1.4. The affected element is the function ntfs_inode_sync_standard_information of the file dir.c of the component ntfs. Executing a manipulation of the argument non_resident can lead to improper synchronization. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-72198. The attack can be executed remotely. There is not any exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.1.4. It has been declared as very critical. This vulnerability affects the function ntfs_inode_sync_standard_information of the file dir.c of the component ntfs. The manipulation of the argument non_resident with an unknown input leads to a improper synchronization vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-662. The product utilizes multiple threads or processes to allow temporary access to a shared resource that can only be exclusive to one process at a time, but it does not properly synchronize these actions, which might cause simultaneous accesses of this resource by multiple threads or processes. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ntfs: reject non-resident records for resident-only attributes The shared lookup-time attribute validator rejects non-resident $FILE_NAME and $VOLUME_NAME records because their formats require resident values and callers handle returned records as resident attributes. Other resident-only attribute types still pass through the generic non-resident mapping-pairs checks. That leaves real resident/non-resident union confusion paths. Inode load looks up $STANDARD_INFORMATION and then reads data.resident.value_offset without checking a->non_resident. ntfs_inode_sync_standard_information() does the same when updating the standard information value. ntfs_write_volume_flags() also looks up $VOLUME_INFORMATION and reads data.resident.value_offset directly. $INDEX_ROOT callers in dir.c and index.c depend on the same lookup contract before consuming the resident index root value. Reject non-resident records for all resident-only attribute types in the shared validator. Keep the existing $FILE_NAME and $VOLUME_NAME behavior, but factor it through a helper and extend it to $STANDARD_INFORMATION, $OBJECT_ID, $VOLUME_INFORMATION, $INDEX_ROOT, and $EA_INFORMATION. For $OBJECT_ID and $EA_INFORMATION this is contract hardening for resident-only formats; this patch only rejects the non-resident form and does not add new resident value validation for those types.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-72198 since 08/09/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 08/15/2026).

Upgrading to version 7.1.5 or 7.2-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch b54c9beb90e570bae17a9c18442aeeaf17165ccb/097cdfd0a55df5af82c9753833f39a8bfadbcfcb is able to eliminate this problem.

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 7.1.0
• 7.1.1
• 7.1.2
• 7.1.3
• 7.1.4

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Discussion