CVE-2026-72187
Received Received - Intake

Deadlock in Linux Kernel NTFS Filesystem

Vulnerability report for CVE-2026-72187, including description, CVSS score, EPSS score, affected products, exploitability, helpful resources, and attack-flow context.

Publication date: 2026-08-15

Last updated on: 2026-08-15

Assigner: kernel.org

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ntfs: avoid self-deadlock during inode eviction An attribute-list update performed while allocating clusters can drop the last reference to the temporary attribute inode. Evicting that inode drops its reference to the base inode and can invoke ntfs_drop_big_inode() for the base inode from within the base inode's own writeback path. If the base inode is unlinked, ntfs_drop_big_inode() calls truncate_setsize(), which waits for the inode's folio writeback to complete. The same writeback worker is responsible for completing that writeback, so it waits for itself indefinitely. Prevent this self-deadlock by grabbing a reference to the base inode at the beginning of ntfs_writepages() and releasing it at the end of the function. This defers eviction until all bios have been submitted, allowing the wait for folio writeback to complete safely.

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Meta Information

Published
2026-08-15
Last Modified
2026-08-15
Generated
2026-08-15
AI Q&A
2026-08-15
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
EUVD

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 1 associated CPE
Vendor Product Version / Range
linux_kernel ntfs *

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

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CWE ID Description
CWE-UNKNOWN

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Executive Summary

This vulnerability in the Linux kernel involves a self-deadlock during inode eviction in the NTFS filesystem. When an attribute-list update allocates clusters, it can drop the last reference to a temporary attribute inode. Evicting this inode triggers a chain reaction that causes ntfs_drop_big_inode() to be called from the base inode's writeback path. If the base inode is unlinked, this leads to a deadlock as the writeback worker waits for itself indefinitely.

Detection Guidance

This vulnerability is specific to the Linux kernel's NTFS implementation and may not have direct detection commands. Monitor kernel logs for ntfs-related errors or deadlock warnings. Check for filesystem corruption or hangs during NTFS operations. Use 'dmesg | grep ntfs' to inspect kernel messages for NTFS-related issues.

Impact Analysis

This vulnerability can cause system hangs or crashes due to the self-deadlock. It may lead to filesystem corruption or data loss if the deadlock disrupts normal operations. Users might experience unresponsive systems or forced reboots.

Mitigation Strategies

Update your Linux kernel to the latest stable version that includes the fix for this vulnerability. Avoid unmounting or modifying NTFS filesystems during active write operations. If possible, temporarily switch to alternative filesystems until the kernel is updated.

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