CVE-2021-35267
HighCVSS 7.8Exploitation Probability (EPSS)
Low risk39th percentile - higher than 39% of all known CVEs
Summary
In NTFS-3G versions prior to 2021.8.22, a stack buffer overflow occurs when correcting differences between the MFT and MFTMirror. This can lead to code execution or privilege escalation when running with setuid-root.
Risk Assessment
The organization is at risk of local users gaining root privileges by exploiting this vulnerability, potentially leading to full system compromise.
Recommendation
Upgrade NTFS-3G to version 2021.8.22 or later immediately. If upgrading is not possible, consider removing the setuid bit from the executable.
Other vulnerabilities in NTFS-3G
See all- CVE-2026-46570High
In NTFS-3G before 2026.7.7, a heap buffer overflow exists in ntfs_index_walk_down() in libntfs-3g/index.c that allows an attacker to corrupt heap memory in the SUID-root ntfs-3g binary by crafting a malicious NTFS image. The overflow is triggered by reading specially crafted file metadata.
- CVE-2026-46572High
In NTFS-3G before 2026.7.7, a heap buffer overflow exists in ntfs_ib_cut_tail() in libntfs-3g/index.c that allows an attacker to corrupt heap memory in the SUID-root ntfs-3g binary by crafting a malicious NTFS image. The overflow is triggered by creating a file in a specially crafted directory.
- CVE-2026-46571Medium
In NTFS-3G before 2026.7.7, an out-of-bounds read exists in ntfs_fix_file_name() in libntfs-3g/reparse.c that allows an attacker to read possibly confidential information from ntfs-3g process memory by crafting a malicious NTFS image. The out-of-bounds read is triggered by a readlink on a corrupted file.
- CVE-2026-46569High
In NTFS-3G before 2026.7.7, a heap buffer overflow exists in ntfs_ib_copy_tail(), in libntfs-3g/index.c, that allows an attacker to corrupt heap memory in the SUID-root ntfs-3g binary by crafting a malicious NTFS image. The overflow is triggered by extending a directory, e.g., by creating a file.
- CVE-2026-42618High
NTFS-3G before 2026.7.7 contains a heap buffer overflow in ntfs_decompress() in compress.c that allows an attacker to corrupt one byte of heap memory in the SUID-root ntfs-3g binary by crafting a malicious NTFS image. The overflow is triggered by reading the specially crafted file.
- CVE-2026-42617High
In NTFS-3G before 2026.7.7, a heap buffer overflow exists in ntfs_ir_to_ib() in index.c that allows an attacker to corrupt heap memory in the SUID-root ntfs-3g binary by crafting a malicious NTFS image. The overflow is triggered by extending a directory, e.g., by creating a file.
- CVE-2026-42616High
In NTFS-3G before 2026.7.7, a heap buffer overflow exists in cat() in ntfscat.c that allows an attacker to corrupt heap memory in the ntfscat binary by crafting a malicious NTFS image. The overflow is triggered by reading a file.
- CVE-2026-56136Medium
In NTFS-3G through version 2026.2.25, an out-of-bounds read vulnerability exists in the ntfs_ir_nill() function in libntfs-3g/index.c. An attacker can exploit this by crafting a malicious NTFS image containing a file with a specially crafted name, leading to the disclosure of potentially confidential information from the ntfs-3g process memory.
- CVE-2026-56135High
NTFS-3G through 2026.2.25 has a heap-based buffer overflow in build_inherited_id() in libntfs-3g/security.c, allowing an attacker to corrupt heap memory in the SUID-root ntfs-3g binary by crafting a malicious NTFS image. The overflow is triggered by creating a file in a crafted directory.
- CVE-2021-35266High
In NTFS-3G versions prior to 2021.8.22, supplying a specially crafted NTFS inode pathname in an NTFS image can cause a heap buffer overflow, resulting in memory disclosure, denial of service, and even code execution.
Original NVD description (English source)
NTFS-3G versions < 2021.8.22, a stack buffer overflow can occur when correcting differences in the MFT and MFTMirror allowing for code execution or escalation of privileges when setuid-root.
Vulnerability data from NVD (NIST) · CISA KEV · EPSS

