CVE-2026-72199

CRITICAL CVSS 3.1: 9.8 EPSS 0.52%
Updated Aug 18, 2026
Linux
Parameter Value
CVSS 9.8 (CRITICAL)
Vendor Linux
Public PoC No

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ntfs: validate resident index root values on lookup Resident $INDEX_ROOT values carry index header fields that callers consume after lookup. Some callers already validate parts of the layout before walking entries, but those checks are scattered and do not cover all root header invariants, such as entries_offset alignment and lower bound, index_length, and allocated_size consistency. The resident root resize paths now keep these header fields consistent while the value size changes: ntfs_ir_truncate() lowers index.allocated_size before shrinking the resident value, and ntfs_ir_reparent() grows the resident value before publishing a larger root header.

Lookup-time validation can therefore cover these invariants without tripping over the driver's own resize paths. Add $INDEX_ROOT to the minimum resident value size table and validate the resident index header fields before returning the attribute from lookup. Require 8-byte aligned index header fields, a sane entries_offset, an index_length within allocated_size, allocated_size within the resident value, and enough entry space for at least an index entry header.

The shared validator already rejects non-resident records for resident-only attribute types, including $INDEX_ROOT.

Attack Parameters

Attack Vector
Network
Can be exploited remotely
Attack Complexity
Low
Easy to exploit
Privileges Required
None
No privileges needed
User Interaction
None
No user interaction needed

Impact Assessment

Confidentiality
High
Complete data leak
Integrity
High
Complete data modification
Availability
High
Complete denial of service

CVSS Vector v3.1