What's the vulnerability?
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fs/ntfs3: fix missing run load for vcn0 in attr_data_get_block_locked() When a compressed or sparse attribute has its clusters frame-aligned, vcn is rounded down to the frame start using cmask, which can result in vcn != vcn0. In this case, vcn and vcn0 may reside in different attribute segments. The code already handles the case where vcn is in a different segment by loading its runs before allocation. However, it fails to load runs for vcn0 when vcn0 resides in a different segment than vcn. This causes run_lookup_entry() to return SPARSE_LCN for vcn0 since its segment was never loaded into the in-memory run list, triggering the WARN_ON(1). Fix this by adding a missing check for vcn0 after the existing vcn segment check. If vcn0 falls outside the current segment range [svcn, evcn1), find and load the attribute segment containing vcn0 before performing the run lookup. The following scenario triggers the bug: attr_data_get_block_locked() vcn = vcn0 & cmask <- vcn != vcn0 after frame alignment load runs for vcn segment <- vcn0 segment not loaded! attr_allocate_clusters() <- allocation succeeds run_lookup_entry(vcn0) <- vcn0 not in run -> SPARSE_LCN WARN_ON(1) <- bug fires here!
Business impact & how R4IM helps
This advisory is on our active-exploitation watchlist. Attackers are using it for initial access, privilege escalation or lateral movement in real-world intrusions. R4IM's offensive security and SOC teams already have detections, exploit replicas and remediation playbooks for this issue.
Targeted vulnerability assessment to confirm which of your assets are actually exploitable — not just theoretically affected.
Our pentesters chain this CVE into realistic attack paths so you see business impact, not just a scan finding.
If the affected product is internet-facing, our AppSec team will harden it against this and related OWASP-class issues.
Continuous monitoring with custom detections for this CVE deployed across your endpoints, identity and cloud.
Recommended remediation
- Inventory all assets running the affected vendor and product, including shadow IT and third-party hosted instances.
- Apply the vendor patch or mitigation referenced in the advisories below. Where no patch exists, isolate the asset or restrict network exposure.
- Hunt for indicators of prior compromise — exploitation of this class of bug often predates public disclosure.
- Deploy detections for the exploit primitives (network signature, EDR rule, WAF rule) and re-test after remediation.
Need help executing these steps? Our team typically completes validation and remediation within a single patch cycle. Request remediation support →
Vendor & research references
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/08fad5d5a26cc55c0ecb68ac59ba3be5e31f4147 · 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2b4ae1ce613ade8a7e118fba4a5a77cd23e97e54 · 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d68a14450783ecc5fddae957ac4e1c546dfcfb73 · 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d7ea8495fd307b58f8867acd81a1b40075b1d3ba · 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
