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Linux kernel patch proposes removal of HPFS file-system driver

Brief written by the FOSSWire AI editor from Phoronix How we write

1 min read

Key Takeaway

The unmaintained HPFS file-system driver, originally developed for OS/2, is slated for removal from the Linux kernel.

Summary

A new patch submitted to the Linux kernel mailing list aims to remove the High Performance File-System (HPFS) driver. Developed by IBM and Microsoft for OS/2, the driver has been unmaintained and lacks support for modern kernel configurations like SMP or PREEMPT. The removal follows the recent removal of the BFS file-system in Linux 7.4.

Technical limitations and security concerns

  • The patch removes 6,969 lines of code.
  • The driver lacks support for SMP kernel builds and PREEMPT kernel configurations.
  • The code is associated with security vulnerability CVE-2026-97486, which can cause kernel panics and denial of service.
  • The driver is considered orphaned with no active users.

Why it matters

The removal reduces the kernel's attack surface and code bloat by eliminating obsolete, unmaintained legacy code.

Original reference: www.phoronix.com →