CVE-2026-72185: ntfs: fix WARN_ON for resident attribute in ntfs_map_runlist_nolock()
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ntfs: fix WARNON for resident attribute in ntfsmaprunlistnolock()
When ntfsmaprunlistnolock() needs to look up the attribute extent containing a target VCN (ctxneedsreset == true), it calls ntfsattrlookup() and then expects the result to be a non-resident attribute, since only non-resident attributes have a mapping pairs array to decompress.
A crafted NTFS image can place a resident attribute where a non-resident one is expected, causing ntfsattrlookup() to succeed but return a resident attribute record. Previously this was caught only by a WARNON(), which does not stop execution. The code then falls through to read a->data.nonresident.highestvcn from what is actually a resident attribute, accessing the wrong union member and corrupting the VCN range check.
The caller path triggering this warning during mount is:
ntfsmaprunlistnolock ntfsemptylogfile loadsystemfiles ntfsfillsuper
In this path ctx is NULL, so ntfsmaprunlistnolock() allocates a temporary search context internally and sets ctxneedsreset = true. The existing resident-attribute guard in the ctx != NULL branch already returns -EIO silently for the same condition; make the ctxneedsreset path consistent by replacing the WARNON() with the same -EIO error return.
This causes the crafted image to be rejected with a mount error instead of triggering a kernel warning.
Affected Software
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-72185?
CVE-2026-72185 has a risk rating of 23, indicating it is a significant vulnerability.
How do I fix CVE-2026-72185?
To fix CVE-2026-72185, update your Linux kernel to the latest version that includes the fix.
What systems are affected by CVE-2026-72185?
CVE-2026-72185 affects systems using the NTFS filesystem within the Linux kernel.
What impact does CVE-2026-72185 have on system performance?
CVE-2026-72185 may lead to unexpected warnings during the handling of resident attributes in NTFS.
When was CVE-2026-72185 published?
CVE-2026-72185 was published on August 15, 2026.