CVE-2026-72187

ntfs: avoid self-deadlock during inode eviction

Published Aug 15, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 5.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

ntfs: avoid self-deadlock during inode eviction

An attribute-list update performed while allocating clusters can drop the
last reference to the temporary attribute inode. Evicting that inode
drops its reference to the base inode and can invoke ntfs_drop_big_inode()
for the base inode from within the base inode's own writeback path.

If the base inode is unlinked, ntfs_drop_big_inode() calls
truncate_setsize(), which waits for the inode's folio writeback to
complete. The same writeback worker is responsible for completing that
writeback, so it waits for itself indefinitely.

Prevent this self-deadlock by grabbing a reference to the base inode at the
beginning of ntfs_writepages() and releasing it at the end of the function.
This defers eviction until all bios have been submitted, allowing the wait
for folio writeback to complete safely.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-833
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ntfs: avoid self-deadlock during inode eviction An attribute-list update performed while allocating clusters can drop the last reference to the temporary attribute inode. Evicting that inode drops its reference to the base inode and can invoke ntfs_drop_big_inode() for the base inode from within the base inode's own writeback path. If the base inode is unlinked, ntfs_drop_big_inode() calls truncate_setsize(), which waits for the inode's folio writeback to complete. The same writeback worker is responsible for completing that writeback, so it waits for itself indefinitely. Prevent this self-deadlock by grabbing a reference to the base inode at the beginning of ntfs_writepages() and releasing it at the end of the function. This defers eviction until all bios have been submitted, allowing the wait for folio writeback to complete safely.
Title ntfs: avoid self-deadlock during inode eviction
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Aug 17, 2026, 5:09 AM
Reserved
Aug 9, 2026, 3:40 AM
Status
Received
Published
Aug 15, 2026, 6:21 AM
Modified
Aug 17, 2026, 6:18 AM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Aug 15, 2026, 12:00 AM