CVE-2026-72193: Linux kernel · ntfs3: cap RESTART_TABLE free-chain walker at rt->used
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 UTC
Rated by Threat Radar · CVSS not yet scored by NVD
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 11% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1123.132~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1122.131~20.04.1 +41
Exploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 15 Aug 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 26.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther 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. The patch adds a bound to the free-chain walker to prevent infinite loops caused by malformed RESTART_TABLE structures. Systems running affected versions should update their kernel to a fixed release. No additional mitigation is required as the issue is resolved by the official fix.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ntfs3 driver allows a crafted NTFS3 disk image to trigger an in-kernel infinite loop during mount time. This causes the mounting thread to hang and can activate the soft-lockup watchdog, potentially leading to a kernel panic on multi-CPU hosts. The issue arises from an unbounded iteration in the free-chain walker of the RESTART_TABLE structure, which can be exploited by creating a disk image with a cyclic free chain. The vulnerability affects specific Linux kernel versions and has been patched.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-72193 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0fad25687d4d3fa1fdd313d31b9cb5817c425029 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/29b86dbe88cbbef53bb9aaec2e279359f8c450f8 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7972df425687daa70d971fe6ed415e78683133dd (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7ac4c86915c24c208a0f0611b71d9676686fe756 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8128bec895075253c779d67afdc90ae513265fca (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9611f644302c07d21bc8af97e3e06a3d30064253 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d313416280d41bea272f02a6034dfa88008692a0 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-72193 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-72193 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/9611f644302c07d21bc8af97e3e06a3d30064253 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8876-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8878-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8879-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8877-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8875-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8888-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8889-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8887-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8888-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8887-2 (opens in a new tab)