CVE-2026-72203: Linux kernel · ntfs: skip extent mft records in writeback to prevent deadlock
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.5 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.6% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 49% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HExploitation 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
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 resolving the deadlock vulnerability is available and should be applied. The fix removes the conflicting lock acquisitions in the MFT folio writeback path, eliminating the ABBA deadlock condition. Users should update to patched Linux kernel versions that include this fix. No additional mitigation steps are indicated by the vendor advisory.
Description
A deadlock vulnerability in the Linux kernel's NTFS driver was resolved by removing conflicting lock acquisitions during writeback operations. The issue involved an ABBA deadlock between extent_lock and extent mrec_lock triggered by specific writeback paths. The fix eliminates the problematic lock ordering by removing extent_lock and extent mrec_lock acquisition from the MFT folio writeback path, preventing deadlocks during inode and MFT folio writebacks.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-72203 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/76bc14c7097ff678b2b5dbfd4fa33b46897d87ce (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f831ab09d521898bf1dd99bf5adfd630ea1428e3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-72203 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-72203 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/76bc14c7097ff678b2b5dbfd4fa33b46897d87ce (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7ffa8f3d30236e0ab897c30bdb01224ff1fe1c89 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6626fb859f4c4772f2f59751d23937716e03f98f (opens in a new tab)