LiveActive security incident?Get immediate response
CVE Record

CVE-2026-31716: fs/ntfs3: validate rec->used in journal-replay file record check

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fs/ntfs3: validate rec->used in journal-replay file record check check_file_record() validates rec->total against the record size but never validates rec->used. The do_action() journal-replay handlers read rec->used from disk and use it to compute memmove lengths: DeleteAttribute: memmove(attr, ..., used - asize - roff) CreateAttribute: memmove(..., attr, used - roff) change_attr_size: memmove(..., used - PtrOffset(rec, next)) When rec->used is smaller than the offset of a validated attribute, or larger than the record size, these subtractions can underflow allowing us to copy huge amounts of memory in to a 4kb buffer, generally considered a bad idea overall. This requires a corrupted filesystem, which isn't a threat model the kernel really needs to worry about, but checking for such an obvious out-of-bounds value is good to keep things robust, especially on journal replay Fix this up by bounding rec->used correctly. This is much like commit b2bc7c44ed17 ("fs/ntfs3: Fix slab-out-of-bounds read in DeleteIndexEntryRoot") which checked different values in this same switch statement.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A corrupted NTFS filesystem can trigger unsafe memory copying in the Linux kernel during journal replay. This may corrupt kernel memory and could compromise confidentiality, integrity, or system availability. Exploitation requires the system to process a malformed filesystem; it is not described as a remote network attack.

Executive priority

Prioritize patching systems that routinely accept removable media, disk images, recovery volumes, or other externally supplied NTFS filesystems. Treat ordinary systems without NTFS exposure as lower urgency, while still updating through normal kernel maintenance. There is no supplied evidence of active exploitation.

Technical view

The ntfs3 check_file_record() function bounded rec->total but not rec->used. Journal-replay handlers subtract attribute offsets from the disk-controlled used value. Values below an attribute offset or above the record size can underflow length calculations, causing oversized memmove operations into a 4 KB buffer. The fix validates rec->used bounds.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to Linux systems using the ntfs3 driver that process a corrupted NTFS filesystem and replay its journal. The supplied data lists multiple affected kernel branches, but its version representation does not provide a sufficiently clear fixed-version mapping. Confirm status through the applicable kernel or distribution advisory.

Exploitation context

The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.8 with local attack vector, low complexity, no privileges, and user interaction required. The supplied record is not in KEV and provides no evidence of active exploitation. It describes corrupted-filesystem processing as the prerequisite, without demonstrating practical weaponization.

Researcher notes

The central invariant is that rec->used must remain within the validated file-record bounds and must not precede referenced attributes. The vulnerable paths include DeleteAttribute, CreateAttribute, and change_attr_size during journal replay. Sources establish possible oversized memory copies, but do not establish reliable code execution or exploitation in the wild.

Mitigation direction

  • Install a vendor-supported kernel containing the applicable cited stable fix.
  • Check Linux distribution guidance for exact affected and corrected package versions.
  • Avoid processing untrusted or unexpectedly corrupted NTFS filesystems until remediation is confirmed.
  • Apply normal controls restricting removable media and untrusted filesystem images.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory kernel versions on systems that may mount NTFS filesystems.
  • Determine whether the ntfs3 driver is present and operationally used.
  • Verify the installed kernel includes the applicable stable fix or vendor backport.
  • Review logs for NTFS journal-replay failures or kernel memory errors.
  • Retest approved NTFS workflows after updating the kernel.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
9

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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.

cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2026-31716 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

Open ATT&CK lookup
Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

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.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
0ADP providers
8Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2026-31716Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxb46acd6a6a627d876898e1c84d3f84902264b445, b46acd6a6a627d876898e1c84d3f84902264b445, b46acd6a6a627d876898e1c84d3f84902264b445, b46acd6a6a627d876898e1c84d3f84902264b445, b46acd6a6a627d876898e1c84d3f84902264b445, b46acd6a6a627d876898e1c84d3f84902264b445, b46acd6a6a627d876898e1c84d3f84902264b445unaffected
LinuxLinux5.15, 0, 5.15.209, 6.1.175, 6.6.136, 6.12.84, 6.18.25, 7.0.2, 7.1affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.