CVE-2026-10635: Dangling memory-domain pointer (use-after-free) in Xtensa MMU page-table code on memory-domain de-init
On Xtensa targets with CONFIGUSERSPACE and CONFIGXTENSAMMU, the page-table code (arch/xtensa/core/ptables.c) maintains a global list, xtensadomainlist, of active memory domains using a list node embedded inside the caller-owned struct kmemdomain. When a domain is destroyed via kmemdomaindeinit() -> archmemdomaindeinit(), the page tables are torn down and domain->arch.ptables is set to NULL, but the domain's node was not removed from xtensadomainlist. The freed/deinitialized domain therefore remained linked into the global list as a dangling pointer into caller-owned storage that may then be freed or reused.
Any subsequent archmemmap()/archmemunmap() operation (widely invoked by kernel memory-mapping and demand-paging code) traverses the stale node and dereferences domain->ptables: at minimum a NULL pointer dereference causing a fatal MMU exception (denial of service), and if the kmemdomain storage has been freed or reused, a use-after-free in which a stale/controlled ptables value is dereferenced and written through during the page-table walk (l2pagetablemap writes l1table[...] and l2table[...], and xtensammucomputedomainregs writes into the domain struct and the L1 table), yielding page-table memory corruption that can undermine userspace isolation.
The vulnerable path is reachable only from privileged kernel/supervisor code (kmemdomaindeinit is not a syscall), not directly from unprivileged user threads or remotely. Affected: Zephyr v4.4.0 (the Xtensa memory-domain de-initialization feature was introduced in commit 3032b58f52d and first shipped in v4.4.0); fixed on main by adding sysslistfindandremove() in archmemdomaindeinit(). The Xtensa MPU path is unaffected.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
Zephyrto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 4.4.0Patch 3032b58f52d - Configuration
Fix the use-after-free by updating arch_mem_domain_deinit() in the Xtensa MMU page-table code to call sys_slist_find_and_remove() for the domain list node, ensuring the de-initialized domain is no longer left as a dangling pointer in xtensa_domain_list.
Zephyr Xtensa MMU (arch/xtensa/core/ptables.c) arch_mem_domain_deinit() removes domain node from xtensa_domain_list = Add sys_slist_find_and_remove() so the de-initialized k_mem_domain is removed from the global list (xtensa_domain_list)
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-10635?
The severity of CVE-2026-10635 is rated as medium with a base score of 6.3.
What type of vulnerability is CVE-2026-10635?
CVE-2026-10635 is a use-after-free vulnerability affecting the Xtensa MMU page-table code.
What software is affected by CVE-2026-10635?
CVE-2026-10635 affects the Zephyr Project Zephyr software.
How can I mitigate CVE-2026-10635?
To mitigate CVE-2026-10635, ensure that your system is updated with the latest patches provided by the Zephyr Project.
What are the potential impacts of CVE-2026-10635?
The potential impacts of CVE-2026-10635 include potential memory corruption, data leakage, and system instability.