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CVE-2026-74632

mm/huge_memory: fix huge_zero_pfn race

CVSS score

7.8

EPSS probability

%0.1

Risk score

0.0

Published

1 mo ago

Official patch verified

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Vulnerability description

DayBreach CVE AI Research

CVE-2026-74632 has vendor, distribution, patch and security-source records on file. We can compare them and prepare an explanation linked to the evidence.

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm/huge_memory: fix huge_zero_pfn race Patch series "mm/huge_memory: fix huge_zero_pfn race", v2. There is a subtle race in the reference-counted huge_zero_folio implementation. The fast path atomic logic fails to account for the fact that the shrinker (which drops the final huge_zero_refcount pin) can overwrite huge_zero_pfn with the ~0UL sentinel value in shrink_huge_zero_folio_scan() after a racing get_huge_zero_folio() installed a valid value there. This results in huge_zero_folio being correctly set but huge_zero_pfn being set incorrectly and thus is_huge_zero_pfn() and consequently is_huge_zero_pmd() will misidentify the huge zero folio as being an ordinary THP folio. This can result in the huge zero folio being split and otherwise treated incorrectly. The solution to this is very subtle as there is an atomic fast path, and thus ordering in weakly ordered architectures has to be treated very carefully. The first commit fixes the issue by introducing a spinlock around huge_zero_[pfn, folio, refcount] write, with careful consideration paid to load/store ordering in the fast path. It is placed first and kept as small as possible so that it can be backported on its own. The second commit is a pure cleanup which reworks the CONFIG_PERSISTENT_HUGE_ZERO_FOLIO logic to better separate the persistent logic from the dynamically allocated one. This patch (of 2): If !CONFIG_PERSISTENT_HUGE_ZERO_FOLIO, the huge_zero_folio is refcounted by huge_zero_refcount and returned by mm_get_huge_zero_folio(). When the caller is done with the huge zero page, its reference count is decremented. Only a shrinker can set the reference count to zero. A race can unfortunately occur between a shrinker decrementing the reference count to zero and a concurrent page fault. This is because shrink_huge_zero_folio_scan() might, if very unlucky, be preempted between setting huge_zero_refcount to zero and writing an invalid value. During this time get_huge_zero_folio() could write to huge_zero_pfn before shrink_huge_zero_folio_scan() resumes. In this event the huge zero folio will be persistently misidentified causing the THP code path to be entered inappropriately for the huge zero folio: CPU 0 CPU 1 =======================================|================================= shrink_huge_zero_folio_scan() | atomic_cmpxchg() sets refcount to 0 | xchg() sets huge_zero_folio to NULL | get_huge_zero_folio() | | atomic_inc_not_zero() -> zero preempted for a long time | Allocate new huge zero folio | | Write valid huge_zero_folio v | Write valid huge_zero_pfn Overwrite huge_zero_pfn with ~0UL <--- Invalid overwrite! This results in is_huge_zero_pfn() and is_huge_zero_pmd() incorrectly returning false for a huge zero page which could result in issues like the huge zero folio being incorrectly split. Note that the issue is with huge_zero_pfn not huge_zero_folio, as get_huge_zero_folio() uses cmpxchg() gated on huge_zero_folio being NULL with a retry loop and shrink_huge_zero_folio_scan() uses xchg() to set huge_zero_folio. Fix the issue by introducing a spinlock, huge_zero_lock, to prevent concurrent write of huge_zero_folio, huge_zero_pfn and huge_zero_refcount. There needs to be significant care taken here to ensure correctness: The fast path in get_huge_zero_folio() uses atomic_inc_not_zero(), which is outside of the critical section, and means huge zero allocation is gated on zero huge_zero_refcount. The fast path doesn't use huge_zero_lock, so the critical section is irrelevant to it. So invariants are required - huge_zero_refcount MUST: * Only be set in the huge_zero_lock critical section to ensure serialisation of huge_zero_pfn, huge_zero_folio and ---truncated---

IMPACT: Affected Products and Software

Affected Products

The following products are affected by CVE-2026-74632 vulnerability. Where our threat engine knows the exact affected versions, they are listed below.

IDVENDORPRODUCTACTION
1linuxLinux View
2linuxLinux View
Total affected vendors: 1|Products: 2

RED HAT CSAF/VEX: Product Impact Check

Red Hat has not yet published a CSAF/VEX impact record for this CVE. This does not mean “not affected”.

SCORING: CVSS from Multiple Sources

CVSS Scores

The Common Vulnerability Scoring System is a standardised framework for assessing the severity of vulnerabilities in software and systems. We collect and display CVSS scores from several sources for each CVE.

SCOREVERSIONSEVERITYVECTORSOURCE
7.8CVSS V31HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HNVD
7.8CVSS V3_1HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HCVE CNA
4.7CVSS 3.x—CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HMicrosoft MSRC

Patch and Remediation Guide

Solution & Remediation Advisory

Patch verified

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reference

Yama veya çözüm referansı

Open source
Confirm the affected product and version against the source evidence above.
Restrict access to internet-facing services and apply network segmentation.
Apply the official update named in the evidence only to the matching product and version.
Monitor server logs and network endpoints for signs of anomalous execution.

Public exploit and active exploitation status

Verified exploit intelligence

No verified public PoC, exploit repository or Metasploit module has been found for this CVE yet.

Weakness Classification and Attack Patterns (CWE & CAPEC)

CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration

While CVE identifies specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorises the common flaws or weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-74632 is associated with the following CWEs:

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC) stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-74632 weaknesses.

Attack Vector and Accessibility

ExposureYerel erişim
PermissionsLow
UserGerekmiyor

Official Sources and Advisories

CVSS Vector Radar Chart

7.8 / 10
Attack VectorLocalComplexityLowPrivilegesLowUser Interact.NoneConfidentialityLowIntegrityNoneAvailabilityHigh

Vulnerability Scoring Details

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack VectorLocal
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges RequiredLow privileges
User InteractionNone required
Confidentiality (Gizlilik)Low
Integrity (Bütünlük)None
Availability (Erişilebilirlik)High

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