CVE-2026-72194
fs/ntfs3: add depth limit to indx_find_buffer to prevent stack overflow
Description
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.
INFO
Published Date :
Aug. 15, 2026, 6:21 a.m.
Last Modified :
Aug. 17, 2026, 6:18 a.m.
Remotely Exploit :
Yes !
Source :
416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
CVSS Scores
| Score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability Score | Impact Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | CRITICAL | 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 |
Solution
- Update the Linux kernel.
- Limit recursion depth in indx_find_buffer.
- Mount filesystems from trusted sources.
- Avoid deleting files triggering rebalancing.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth
information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2026-72194.
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-72194 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-72194
weaknesses.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2026-72194 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2026-72194 vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
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CVE Modified by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Aug. 17, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Changed Affected [{'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17', 'lessThan': '99031d4f63c785d2a985b6a4c64c4256f7117052', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17', 'lessThan': '65357a81f64cb3fbe13b4b937586755e4b3a072f', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17', 'lessThan': '96fb64f9da86fd2dbd78fbe9d9e41ae27e12ce34', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17', 'lessThan': '78612f478f9fadcec4f9b3b089970da67ffb47e9', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17', 'lessThan': '908c9243ba309997b73cbda3e4c563d0fb345ee9', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17', 'lessThan': 'fdf50c788e0991e42a187ff75479a0df7fb752f1', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17', 'lessThan': '1ebd684b8f627f75bc3e03f8b2ad8400fd1f02cd', 'versionType': 'git'}], 'programFiles': ['fs/ntfs3/index.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}, {'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '5.15'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '0', 'lessThan': '5.15', 'versionType': 'semver'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '5.15.212', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '5.15.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.1.178', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.1.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.6.145', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.6.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.12.97', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.12.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.18.40', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.18.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.1.5', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '7.1.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.2-rc1', 'versionType': 'original_commit_for_fix', 'lessThanOrEqual': '*'}], 'programFiles': ['fs/ntfs3/index.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'affected'}] [{'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17', 'lessThan': '99031d4f63c785d2a985b6a4c64c4256f7117052', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17', 'lessThan': '65357a81f64cb3fbe13b4b937586755e4b3a072f', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17', 'lessThan': '96fb64f9da86fd2dbd78fbe9d9e41ae27e12ce34', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17', 'lessThan': '78612f478f9fadcec4f9b3b089970da67ffb47e9', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17', 'lessThan': '908c9243ba309997b73cbda3e4c563d0fb345ee9', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17', 'lessThan': 'fdf50c788e0991e42a187ff75479a0df7fb752f1', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17', 'lessThan': '1ebd684b8f627f75bc3e03f8b2ad8400fd1f02cd', 'versionType': 'git'}], 'programFiles': ['fs/ntfs3/index.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}, {'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '5.15'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '0', 'lessThan': '5.15', 'versionType': 'semver'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '5.15.212', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '5.15.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.1.178', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.1.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.6.145', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.6.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.12.97', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.12.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.18.40', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.18.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.1.5', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '7.1.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.2', 'versionType': 'original_commit_for_fix', 'lessThanOrEqual': '*'}], 'programFiles': ['fs/ntfs3/index.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'affected'}] -
New CVE Received by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Aug. 15, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Affected [{'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17', 'lessThan': '99031d4f63c785d2a985b6a4c64c4256f7117052', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17', 'lessThan': '65357a81f64cb3fbe13b4b937586755e4b3a072f', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17', 'lessThan': '96fb64f9da86fd2dbd78fbe9d9e41ae27e12ce34', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17', 'lessThan': '78612f478f9fadcec4f9b3b089970da67ffb47e9', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17', 'lessThan': '908c9243ba309997b73cbda3e4c563d0fb345ee9', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17', 'lessThan': 'fdf50c788e0991e42a187ff75479a0df7fb752f1', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17', 'lessThan': '1ebd684b8f627f75bc3e03f8b2ad8400fd1f02cd', 'versionType': 'git'}], 'programFiles': ['fs/ntfs3/index.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}, {'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '5.15'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '0', 'lessThan': '5.15', 'versionType': 'semver'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '5.15.212', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '5.15.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.1.178', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.1.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.6.145', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.6.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.12.97', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.12.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.18.40', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.18.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.1.5', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '7.1.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.2-rc1', 'versionType': 'original_commit_for_fix', 'lessThanOrEqual': '*'}], 'programFiles': ['fs/ntfs3/index.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'affected'}] Added Description 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. Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1ebd684b8f627f75bc3e03f8b2ad8400fd1f02cd Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/65357a81f64cb3fbe13b4b937586755e4b3a072f Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/78612f478f9fadcec4f9b3b089970da67ffb47e9 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/908c9243ba309997b73cbda3e4c563d0fb345ee9 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/96fb64f9da86fd2dbd78fbe9d9e41ae27e12ce34 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/99031d4f63c785d2a985b6a4c64c4256f7117052 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fdf50c788e0991e42a187ff75479a0df7fb752f1