CVE-2025-71266: Linux kernel · fs: ntfs3: check return value of indx_find to avoid infinite loop
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · fixed in b0ea441f44ce64fa514a415d4a9e6e2b06e7946c : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 10 Nov 2026, 13:03 UTC
Rated High by Threat Radar's AI analysis · No CVSS score from NVD or the CNA
Thin evidence
One scorer or none- Patch
- Available – fixed in b0ea441f44ce64fa514a415d4a9e6e2b06e7946c, 1732053c8a6b360e2d5afb1b34fe9779398b072c, 435d34719db0e130f6f0c621d67ed524cc1a7d10 +4
Exploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 18 Mar 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 10 Nov 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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AI-suggested
A patch is available and has been applied to fix this vulnerability by adding a return value check in the indx_find() function to prevent infinite loops and memory exhaustion. Users should update to the fixed Linux kernel versions or apply the relevant patches. Since this is a kernel-level issue, applying the official fix is the recommended mitigation.
Description
CVE-2025-71266 is a vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ntfs3 filesystem driver that can cause an infinite loop leading to a denial-of-service (DoS) condition. A specially crafted directory entry can trigger the kernel to repeatedly allocate memory without bounds, resulting in an out-of-memory (OOM) crash. The issue arises from the lack of loop detection and depth limits in the indx_find() function when processing malformed INDEX_ENTRY structures. A patch has been released that adds a return value check to prevent this infinite loop and memory exhaustion.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/14c3188afbedfd5178bbabb8002487ea14b37b56 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/435d34719db0e130f6f0c621d67ed524cc1a7d10 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/68e32694be231c1cdb99b7637a657314e88e1a96 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/398e768d1accd1f5645492ab996005d7aa84a5b0 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b0ea441f44ce64fa514a415d4a9e6e2b06e7946c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0ad7a1be44479503dbe5c699759861ef5b8bd70c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1732053c8a6b360e2d5afb1b34fe9779398b072c (opens in a new tab)
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-082556.html (opens in a new tab)
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-019113.html (opens in a new tab)
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-457936.html (opens in a new tab)