CVE-2026-98138

ntfs: do not mark the volume clean in sync_fs when errors were recorded

Published Sep 25, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 5.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

ntfs: do not mark the volume clean in sync_fs when errors were recorded

ntfs_put_super() and the remount-read-only path both clear the dirty bit
only when NVolErrors(vol) is false. ntfs_sync_fs() clears it
unconditionally, so any sync() on a volume that recorded an error marks
that volume clean. A volume without this set is then seen as not needing
recovery and it does not run one, so whatever went wrong is never repaired.

This change skips resetting the dirty bit when there are volume errors.

Reproduced on a volume whose $MFTMirr does not match $MFT, which sets the
error flag while leaving the mount read-write: after a write and a sync,
the on-disk volume flags read 0x0000 with this driver and 0x0001 with the
guard in place.

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 NVD-CWE-noinfo
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.3:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-665
CWE-754
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-390
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
Weaknesses CWE-665
CWE-754
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ntfs: do not mark the volume clean in sync_fs when errors were recorded ntfs_put_super() and the remount-read-only path both clear the dirty bit only when NVolErrors(vol) is false. ntfs_sync_fs() clears it unconditionally, so any sync() on a volume that recorded an error marks that volume clean. A volume without this set is then seen as not needing recovery and it does not run one, so whatever went wrong is never repaired. This change skips resetting the dirty bit when there are volume errors. Reproduced on a volume whose $MFTMirr does not match $MFT, which sets the error flag while leaving the mount read-write: after a write and a sync, the on-disk volume flags read 0x0000 with this driver and 0x0001 with the guard in place.
Title ntfs: do not mark the volume clean in sync_fs when errors were recorded
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
Oct 19, 2026, 9:14 AM
Reserved
Sep 25, 2026, 10:25 AM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Sep 25, 2026, 11:17 AM
Modified
Oct 19, 2026, 10:18 AM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Sep 25, 2026, 12:00 AM