Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a Linux kernel memory safety bug in NTFS filesystem handling. If a vulnerable system processes an affected NTFS filesystem, a local low-privileged attacker could potentially compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Public sources do not show active exploitation.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation for Linux endpoints, servers, or appliances that mount NTFS volumes, especially where lower-privileged users or automation can introduce media or disk images. For systems without NTFS exposure, track normal kernel maintenance after confirming vendor status.
Technical view
CVE-2023-26544 is a CWE-416 use-after-free in run_unpack in fs/ntfs3/run.c in Linux kernel 6.0.8, tied to mismatched NTFS sector size and media sector size. CVSS 3.1 is 7.8 with local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, and high CIA impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most relevant to Linux systems running vulnerable ntfs3 kernel code and handling NTFS volumes. The bundle does not provide complete affected-version ranges, distro package names, or product mappings, so teams must map vendor kernels and backports against the referenced upstream fix and advisories.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector indicates local, low-complexity exploitation requiring low privileges and no user interaction. The source bundle marks KEV as false and provides no cited evidence of in-the-wild exploitation or public weaponization. Treat risk as serious but not currently confirmed as actively exploited.
Researcher notes
The public bundle identifies the vulnerable function, weakness class, CVSS vector, and an upstream kernel commit. It does not provide complete affected ranges, exploit details, or distro-specific fixed builds. Validation should focus on vendor backport evidence rather than raw kernel version alone.
Mitigation direction
- Apply vendor kernel updates that include the upstream fix or equivalent backport.
- Review Linux distribution advisories for exact fixed package versions.
- Limit mounting or processing untrusted NTFS media until patched.
- Check NetApp and other appliance vendor advisories for product-specific guidance.
- Document any temporary NTFS handling restrictions for operations teams.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, endpoints, and appliances.
- Confirm whether ntfs3 support is enabled, loaded, or used operationally.
- Verify vendor changelogs reference CVE-2023-26544 or the upstream fix commit.
- Test patched systems in staging before broad kernel rollout.
- Confirm controls restrict untrusted NTFS media where patching is delayed.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-416: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2023-26544 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://lkml.org/lkml/2023/2/20/128CVE reference
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230316-0010/CVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=887bfc546097fbe8071dac13b2fef73b77920899CVE reference
- https://bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1208697CVE reference
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Use After Free
Use After Free represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.