CVE-2026-72186: Linux kernel · ntfs: make system files immutable to prevent corruption
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 9.1 Critical.
Data as of 9 Nov 2026, 14:06 UTC
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 15 Aug 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 9 Nov 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-aws-6.14pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-aws-6.17pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws-6.17?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-6.11pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-6.14pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-6.14?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-6.17pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-6.17?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-fde-6.14pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.14?arch=source&distro=nobleOther 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 fix is available that marks critical NTFS system files as immutable to prevent unauthorized writes. Users should update to the patched Linux kernel versions listed in the affectedVersions field to mitigate this vulnerability.
Description
CVE-2026-72186 is a critical vulnerability in the Linux kernel's NTFS driver where system files such as $Bitmap could be written from userspace, causing volume corruption and potential deadlocks. The issue arises because these system files are not properly protected against writes through the file interface. The fix involves marking base metadata files as immutable during inode read, preventing unauthorized write, mmap, truncate, and unlink operations via the VFS layer.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-72186 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-72186 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/f72df3a4c33b64de3418ec74d1ad4f028e09d161 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8f313e92522ac41d273ea137db13ea8a8df2beed (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f72df3a4c33b64de3418ec74d1ad4f028e09d161 (opens in a new tab)