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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2026-72199: Linux kernel · ntfs: validate resident index root values on lookup

Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database

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Not known to be exploited · CVSS 9.8 Critical.

Data as of 9 Nov 2026, 14:06 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
9.8Critical
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 15 Aug 2026

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponized: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq 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

ProductAffectedFixed in
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-aws-6.14pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • 6.14.0-1007.7~24.04.1 – 6.14.0-1018.18~24.04.1
11 affected builds
Fixed in–
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-aws-6.17pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws-6.17?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • 6.17.0-1005.5~24.04.2 – 6.17.0-1020.20~24.04.1
10 affected builds
Fixed in–
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-6.11pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • 6.11.0-1008.8~24.04.1 – 6.11.0-1018.18~24.04.1
7 affected builds
Fixed in–
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-6.14pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-6.14?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • 6.14.0-1010.10~24.04.1 – 6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1
5 affected builds
Fixed in–
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-6.17pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-6.17?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • 6.17.0-1008.8~24.04.1 – 6.17.0-1022.22
10 affected builds
Fixed in–
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-fde-6.14pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.14?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • 6.14.0-1012.12~24.04.1 – 6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1
5 affected builds
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 in updated Linux kernel versions that include validation of resident $INDEX_ROOT values and consistent resizing of resident root headers. Users should upgrade to patched kernel versions corresponding to their distribution. Since this is a kernel-level vulnerability, applying official kernel updates from the vendor or distribution is the recommended remediation. No additional mitigations are indicated beyond applying the official fix.

Description

A critical vulnerability in the Linux kernel's NTFS driver (CVE-2026-72199) involves insufficient validation of resident $INDEX_ROOT values during lookup. This flaw allows inconsistent or malformed index root header fields, potentially leading to severe impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The issue affects multiple Linux kernel versions including various 4.15.x, 5.0.x, and 5.3.x builds. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 9.8, indicating critical severity. The Linux kernel has addressed this by adding comprehensive validation of index root header fields and ensuring consistency during resident root resizing operations.

References

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