CVE-2026-72202

ntfs: avoid heap allocation for free-cluster readahead state

Published Aug 15, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.5 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

ntfs: avoid heap allocation for free-cluster readahead state

get_nr_free_clusters() allocates a temporary file_ra_state before it
publishes the precomputed free cluster count, sets NVolFreeClusterKnown(),
and wakes vol->free_waitq. If that allocation fails, the worker returns
without setting the flag or waking waiters, so callers waiting for the free
count can block indefinitely.

The readahead state is only used synchronously while scanning the bitmap.
Keep it on the stack and pass it by address to the readahead helper. This
eliminates the early allocation failure path instead of adding a special
case that publishes a conservative count and wakes the waitqueue.
Zero-initialize the on-stack state because file_ra_state_init() only sets
ra_pages and prev_pos.

Apply the same treatment to __get_nr_free_mft_records(), which scans the
MFT bitmap with the same short-lived readahead state.

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-398
CWE-404
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-676
CWE-703
CWE-770
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-676
CWE-703
CWE-770
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ntfs: avoid heap allocation for free-cluster readahead state get_nr_free_clusters() allocates a temporary file_ra_state before it publishes the precomputed free cluster count, sets NVolFreeClusterKnown(), and wakes vol->free_waitq. If that allocation fails, the worker returns without setting the flag or waking waiters, so callers waiting for the free count can block indefinitely. The readahead state is only used synchronously while scanning the bitmap. Keep it on the stack and pass it by address to the readahead helper. This eliminates the early allocation failure path instead of adding a special case that publishes a conservative count and wakes the waitqueue. Zero-initialize the on-stack state because file_ra_state_init() only sets ra_pages and prev_pos. Apply the same treatment to __get_nr_free_mft_records(), which scans the MFT bitmap with the same short-lived readahead state.
Title ntfs: avoid heap allocation for free-cluster readahead state
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 18, 2026, 6:56 AM
Reserved
Aug 9, 2026, 3:40 AM
Status
Received
Published
Aug 15, 2026, 6:21 AM
Modified
Aug 18, 2026, 7:16 AM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Aug 15, 2026, 12:00 AM