CVE-2026-64431 Details
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ntfs: avoid calling post_write_mst_fixup() for invalid index_block ntfs_icx_ib_sync_write() calls post_write_mst_fixup() when ntfs_ib_write() returns an error, intending to restore the buffer after a failed write. However, ntfs_ib_write() returns an error immediately if pre_write_mst_fixup() validation fails. The caller, ntfs_icx_ib_sync_write(), interprets any error as a write failure requiring rollback. It does not differentiate between I/O errors and validation failures, and calls post_write_mst_fixup() anyway. Since post_write_mst_fixup() assumes that the index_block contents is correct, it doesn't perform the boundary checks, which results in out-of-bounds memory access. An attacker can craft a malicious NTFS image with: - large index_block.usa_ofs offset, pointing outside the ntfs_record - index_block.usa_count = 0, causing integer underflow - or index_block.usa_count larger than actual number of sectors in the ntfs_record, causing out-of-bounds access KASAN reports describing the memory corruption: ================================================================== BUG: KASAN: slab-out-of-bounds in post_write_mst_fixup+0x19c/0x1d0 Read of size 2 at addr ffff8881586c9018 by task p/9428 Call Trace: <TASK> dump_stack_lvl+0x100/0x190 print_report+0x139/0x4ad ? post_write_mst_fixup+0x19c/0x1d0 ? __virt_addr_valid+0x262/0x500 ? post_write_mst_fixup+0x19c/0x1d0 kasan_report+0xe4/0x1d0 ? post_write_mst_fixup+0x19c/0x1d0 post_write_mst_fixup+0x19c/0x1d0 ntfs_icx_ib_sync_write+0x179/0x220 ntfs_inode_sync_filename+0x83d/0x1080 __ntfs_write_inode+0x1049/0x1480 ntfs_file_fsync+0x131/0x9b0 ================================================================== BUG: KASAN: slab-out-of-bounds in post_write_mst_fixup+0x1aa/0x1d0 Write of size 2 at addr ffff8881586c91fe by task p/9428 Call Trace: <TASK> dump_stack_lvl+0x100/0x190 print_report+0x139/0x4ad ? post_write_mst_fixup+0x1aa/0x1d0 ? __virt_addr_valid+0x262/0x500 ? post_write_mst_fixup+0x1aa/0x1d0 kasan_report+0xe4/0x1d0 ? post_write_mst_fixup+0x1aa/0x1d0 post_write_mst_fixup+0x1aa/0x1d0 ntfs_icx_ib_sync_write+0x179/0x220 ntfs_inode_sync_filename+0x83d/0x1080 __ntfs_write_inode+0x1049/0x1480 ntfs_file_fsync+0x131/0x9b0 ================================================================== Let's move the post_write_mst_fixup() call to ntfs_ib_write(). The ntfs_ib_write() function calls pre_write_mst_fixup() at the beginning. If the index_block contents is invalid, pre_write_mst_fixup() fails and ntfs_ib_write() returns early without calling post_write_mst_fixup() on bad index_block.
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's NTFS handling can lead to out-of-bounds memory access. This issue arises in the 'ntfs' file system when the 'ntfs_icx_ib_sync_write()' function calls 'post_write_mst_fixup()' after a write error. The problem is that 'ntfs_ib_write()' returns an error if 'pre_write_mst_fixup()' validation fails, but 'ntfs_icx_ib_sync_write()' does not distinguish between different types of errors. As a result, 'post_write_mst_fixup()' is called without proper validation, leading to memory corruption. An attacker can exploit this by crafting a malicious NTFS image with specific characteristics, such as a large 'index_block.usa_ofs' offset that points outside the NTFS record, an 'index_block.usa_count' of zero that causes an integer underflow, or an 'index_block.usa_count' that exceeds the actual number of sectors in the NTFS record, causing out-of-bounds access.
Users can upgrade to the latest version of the Linux kernel where this vulnerability has been fixed. Instructions for downloading the patched version are available on the official Linux kernel website.
Metrics
CVSS 4.0 Severity and Vector Strings:
No CVSS 4.0 data is available for this CVE.
CVSS 3.x Severity and Vector Strings:
No data available for CVSS Version 2.0 on this CVE.
No SSVC data is available for this CVE.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
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| URL | Source(s) | Tag(s) |
|---|---|---|
| https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5b6eedd7cc2936f9238e852b553a1b326105bde8 | kernel.org | Patch |
| https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e2018628301a6d9f54e34b0cb417f1688c66df1d | kernel.org | Patch |
Weakness Enumeration
| CWE-ID | CWE Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| CWE-787 | Out-of-bounds Write | [email protected] |
Affected Products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
| linux linux kernel | >= 7.1, < 7.1.4 7.2 rc1 7.2 rc2 |
CPE
Remediation
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Change History
4 change records found show changes
| Date | Action | Recorded By |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 3, 2026 | Initial Analysis | [email protected] |
| Aug 17, 2026 | CVE Modified | kernel.org |
| Jul 27, 2026 | CVE Modified | kernel.org |
| Jul 25, 2026 | New CVE Received | kernel.org |