CVE-2023-53732 fs/ntfs3: Fix NULL dereference in ni_write_inode
A local attacker can cause a kernel crash via a NULL pointer dereference in the NTFS3 filesystem driver during inode creation errors.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2023-53732?
CVE-2023-53732 is a vulnerability in Linux, published on 22 Oct 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
fs/ntfs3: Fix NULL dereference in ni_write_inode
Syzbot reports a NULL dereference in ni_write_inode. When creating a new inode, if allocation fails in mi_init function (called in mi_format_new function), mi->mrec is set to NULL. In the error path of this inode creation, mi->mrec is later dereferenced in ni_write_inode.
Add a NULL check to prevent NULL dereference.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-53732?
How do I fix CVE-2023-53732?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Is CVE-2023-53732 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-53732 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2023-53732, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53732, GHSA-3rxh-rgj9-q9fq, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-11-CVE-2023-53732, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53732.