CVE-2026-72190: ntfs: fix mrec_lock ABBA deadlock in rename

Published Aug 15, 2026
·
Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

ntfs: fix mreclock ABBA deadlock in rename

ntfsfilefsync(), ntfsdirfsync() and ntfswriteinode() lock an inode's mreclock before taking the mreclock of its parent directory.

ntfsrename() takes oldni->mreclock and olddirni->mreclock before taking newni->mreclock for an existing target, or newdirni->mreclock for a cross-directory rename. This can deadlock when ntfsfilefsync() or ntfswriteinode() holds the target inode, or when ntfsdirfsync() holds a child target directory, while rename() holds the parent directory and waits for the target.

Fix this by locking the existing target inode before taking any parent directory mreclock. For cross-directory renames where the target parent is a descendant of the source parent, lock the target parent before the source parent so the directory order matches the child-to-parent order used by ntfsfilefsync(), ntfsdirfsync(), and ntfswriteinode().

Affected Software

1 affected component
The Linux Kernel Community Linux Kernel

Event History

Aug 15, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·05:53 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·05:53 AM
Description
Data Sourced
via NVD·06:21 AM
Description
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-72190?

CVE-2026-72190 has a risk rating of 17, indicating a significant level of concern.

2

How does CVE-2026-72190 affect the Linux kernel?

CVE-2026-72190 addresses an ABBA deadlock issue in the NTFS file system of the Linux kernel.

3

What is the root cause of CVE-2026-72190?

The vulnerability is caused by inadequate locking order when renaming files and directories in NTFS.

4

How do I mitigate CVE-2026-72190?

To mitigate CVE-2026-72190, ensure that you upgrade to a patched version of the Linux kernel.

5

What are the potential impacts of CVE-2026-72190 if left unpatched?

If CVE-2026-72190 is left unpatched, it may lead to system hangs and application crashes due to deadlock.

Contact

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