CVE-2026-72209
Linux kernel NTFS parsing flaw allows kernel memory OOB read and crash.
Is CVE-2026-72209 being exploited?
Not confirmed. CVE-2026-72209 does not appear in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, which records only exploitation that has been observed and reported publicly. That is evidence of absence of a report, not evidence the flaw is unattacked. EPSS currently estimates a 0.52% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
How severe is CVE-2026-72209?
CVE-2026-72209 is rated Critical. Severity describes how bad exploitation would be, not how likely it is: pair it with exploitation evidence before deciding what to patch first.
Is there a patch for CVE-2026-72209?
Yes. A fix has been recorded for CVE-2026-72209. The vendor advisory is the authority on the exact fixed version — apply it from there rather than from a summary.
What does CVE-2026-72209 affect?
CVE-2026-72209 affects Linux kernel (ntfs/ntfs3 driver), Servers, VMs, desktops mounting untrusted NTFS images. Confirm the exact affected versions against the vendor advisory before deciding you are exposed.
What should I do about CVE-2026-72209?
Apply kernel updates promptly; avoid mounting untrusted NTFS images; reboot after patch.
Exploitation status reflects CISA's KEV catalog as we last synced it. Check the catalog directly.
Out-of-bounds read in NTFS kernel driver from crafted NTFS images; can leak kernel memory and crash (DoS); may aid privilege escalation when chained.
Immediate action required
- affected>= 6ceb4cc81ef3409ff79dcb959771f9110787397a and < e4c36dfac57a7261e9aeb0f3a7f30944a8aefb56
- affected>= 6ceb4cc81ef3409ff79dcb959771f9110787397a and < d5803e3345dae9c6470bb61869885236276b9a35
- affected7.1
As published in the CVE Program record. A version outside these ranges is not a statement that it is unaffected — vendors sometimes understate a range, and distribution-backported builds carry upstream numbers that do not reflect what was patched into them.