Linux Kernel up to 7.1.4 NTFS3 indx_find_buffer depth stack-based overflow

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.3$0-$5k0.48

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.1.4. It has been classified as critical. This issue affects the function indx_find_buffer of the component NTFS3. The manipulation of the argument depth leads to stack-based overflow. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-72194. Local access is required to approach this attack. No exploit exists.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 7.1.4. This issue affects the function indx_find_buffer of the component NTFS3. The manipulation of the argument depth with an unknown input leads to a stack-based overflow vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-121. A stack-based buffer overflow condition is a condition where the buffer being overwritten is allocated on the stack (i.e., is a local variable or, rarely, a parameter to a function). Impacted is availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fs/ntfs3: add depth limit to indx_find_buffer to prevent stack overflow indx_find_buffer() recursively descends the B+ tree index with no depth limit. A crafted NTFS image with circular index node references causes unbounded recursion, overflowing the kernel stack and panicking the system. This is reachable by mounting a malicious NTFS filesystem (e.g. from a USB drive via desktop automount) and deleting a file whose index entry triggers the rebalancing fallback path in indx_delete_entry(). Add a depth parameter and bail out with -EINVAL when it reaches the fnd->nodes array bound, matching the constraint already enforced by fnd_push() in indx_find(). The related function indx_find() was previously patched for a similar infinite-loop issue (commit 1732053c8a6b), but indx_find_buffer() was missed.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-72194 since 08/09/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. Attacking locally is a requirement. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 08/15/2026).

Upgrading to version 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 99031d4f63c785d2a985b6a4c64c4256f7117052/65357a81f64cb3fbe13b4b937586755e4b3a072f/96fb64f9da86fd2dbd78fbe9d9e41ae27e12ce34/78612f478f9fadcec4f9b3b089970da67ffb47e9/908c9243ba309997b73cbda3e4c563d0fb345ee9/fdf50c788e0991e42a187ff75479a0df7fb752f1/1ebd684b8f627f75bc3e03f8b2ad8400fd1f02cd 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: 5.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.3

VulDB Base Score: 5.5
VulDB Temp Score: 5.3
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: Stack-based overflow
CWE: CWE-121 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

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 5.15.212/6.1.178/6.6.145/6.12.97/6.18.40/7.1.5/7.2-rc1
Patch: 99031d4f63c785d2a985b6a4c64c4256f7117052/65357a81f64cb3fbe13b4b937586755e4b3a072f/96fb64f9da86fd2dbd78fbe9d9e41ae27e12ce34/78612f478f9fadcec4f9b3b089970da67ffb47e9/908c9243ba309997b73cbda3e4c563d0fb345ee9/fdf50c788e0991e42a187ff75479a0df7fb752f1/1ebd684b8f627f75bc3e03f8b2ad8400fd1f02cd

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-2026-72194 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-72194
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-390647

Entryinfo

Created: 08/15/2026 13:37
Changes: 08/15/2026 13:37 (60)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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