CVE-2025-71266: Linux kernel · fs: ntfs3: check return value of indx_find to avoid infinite loop
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 5.15.0-1112.119~20.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 2% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1112.119~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1117.126~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1117.126~20.04.2 +63
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 18 Mar 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: 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 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 25.10linuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-oraclepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oracle?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A patch is available and should be applied to affected Linux kernel versions to prevent this vulnerability. The patch adds proper return value checks to avoid infinite loops and memory exhaustion. Systems running affected versions should update to the fixed kernel releases as provided by their vendor. No additional mitigation is required beyond applying the official fix.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ntfs3 file system could cause an infinite loop leading to a denial-of-service (DoS) condition. This occurs when a malformed directory entry triggers repeated memory allocation without proper loop detection, exhausting system memory and causing an out-of-memory crash. The issue has been addressed by adding a return value check in the indx_find() function to prevent infinite loops and memory exhaustion.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-71266 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-71266 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/1732053c8a6b360e2d5afb1b34fe9779398b072c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0ad7a1be44479503dbe5c699759861ef5b8bd70c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/14c3188afbedfd5178bbabb8002487ea14b37b56 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1732053c8a6b360e2d5afb1b34fe9779398b072c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/398e768d1accd1f5645492ab996005d7aa84a5b0 (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/b0ea441f44ce64fa514a415d4a9e6e2b06e7946c (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8492-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8492-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8497-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8498-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8499-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8492-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8492-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8492-5 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8575-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8576-1 (opens in a new tab)