CVE-2025-71266
Analyzed
Analyzed - Analysis Complete
Infinite Loop DoS in Linux Kernel ntfs3 Filesystem Lookup
Publication date: 2026-03-18
Last updated on: 2026-05-21
Assigner: kernel.org
Description
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
fs: ntfs3: check return value of indx_find to avoid infinite loop
We found an infinite loop bug in the ntfs3 file system that can lead to a
Denial-of-Service (DoS) condition.
A malformed dentry in the ntfs3 filesystem can cause the kernel to hang
during the lookup operations. By setting the HAS_SUB_NODE flag in an
INDEX_ENTRY within a directory's INDEX_ALLOCATION block and manipulating the
VCN pointer, an attacker can cause the indx_find() function to repeatedly
read the same block, allocating 4 KB of memory each time. The kernel lacks
VCN loop detection and depth limits, causing memory exhaustion and an OOM
crash.
This patch adds a return value check for fnd_push() to prevent a memory
exhaustion vulnerability caused by infinite loops. When the index exceeds the
size of the fnd->nodes array, fnd_push() returns -EINVAL. The indx_find()
function checks this return value and stops processing, preventing further
memory allocation.
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
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Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| linux | linux_kernel | 5.15 |
| linux | linux_kernel | From 6.2 (inc) to 6.6.128 (exc) |
| linux | linux_kernel | From 6.7 (inc) to 6.12.75 (exc) |
| linux | linux_kernel | From 6.13 (inc) to 6.18.16 (exc) |
| linux | linux_kernel | From 6.19 (inc) to 6.19.6 (exc) |
| linux | linux_kernel | From 5.16 (inc) to 6.1.165 (exc) |
| linux | linux_kernel | From 5.15.1 (inc) to 5.15.202 (exc) |
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
CWE
KEV
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-835 | The product contains an iteration or loop with an exit condition that cannot be reached, i.e., an infinite loop. |
