fs: ntfs3: check return value of indx_find to avoid infinite loop
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-835.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fs: ntfs3: check return value of indx_find to avoid infinite loop We found an infinite loop bug in the ntfs3 file system that can lead to a Denial-of-Service (DoS) condition. A malformed dentry in the ntfs3 filesystem can cause the kernel to hang during the lookup operations. By setting the HAS_SUB_NODE flag in an INDEX_ENTRY within a directory's INDEX_ALLOCATION block and manipulating the VCN pointer, an attacker can cause the indx_find() function to repeatedly read the same block, allocating 4 KB of memory each time. The kernel lacks VCN loop detection and depth limits, causing memory exhaustion and an OOM crash. This patch adds a return value check for fnd_push() to prevent a memory exhaustion vulnerability caused by infinite loops. When the index exceeds the size of the fnd->nodes array, fnd_push() returns -EINVAL. The indx_find() function checks this return value and stops processing, preventing further memory allocation.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 5.15 and later | 5.15.202, 6.1.165, 6.6.128, 6.12.75, 6.18.16, 6.19.6, 7.0 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 5.15 and later Fixed in 5.15.202, 6.1.165, 6.6.128, 6.12.75, 6.18.16, 6.19.6, 7.0 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 2
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.15.202, 6.1.165, 6.6.128, 6.12.75, 6.18.16, 6.19.6, 7.0
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Not affected: 5 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-71266
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-f43g-cfgj-442p
References
Patch 7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/14c3188afbedfd5178bbabb8002487ea14b37b56
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/435d34719db0e130f6f0c621d67ed524cc1a7d10
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/68e32694be231c1cdb99b7637a657314e88e1a96
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/398e768d1accd1f5645492ab996005d7aa84a5b0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b0ea441f44ce64fa514a415d4a9e6e2b06e7946c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0ad7a1be44479503dbe5c699759861ef5b8bd70c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1732053c8a6b360e2d5afb1b34fe9779398b072c
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Sources
- CVE-2025-71266 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-71266 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-f43g-cfgj-442p · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2025-71266 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences