CVE-2026-23375: mm: thp: deny THP for files on anonymous inodes

Published Mar 25, 2026
·
Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

mm: thp: deny THP for files on anonymous inodes

filethpenabled() incorrectly allows THP for files on anonymous inodes (e.g. guestmemfd and secretmem). These files are created via allocfilepseudo(), which does not call getwriteaccess() and leaves inode->iwritecount at 0. Combined with SISREG(inode->imode) being true, they appear as read-only regular files when CONFIGREADONLYTHPFORFS is enabled, making them eligible for THP collapse.

Anonymous inodes can never pass the inodeisopenforwrite() check since their iwritecount is never incremented through the normal VFS open path. The right thing to do is to exclude them from THP eligibility altogether, since CONFIGREADONLYTHPFORFS was designed for real filesystem files (e.g. shared libraries), not for pseudo-filesystem inodes.

For guestmemfd, this allows khugepaged and MADVCOLLAPSE to create large folios in the page cache via the collapse path, but the guestmemfd fault handler does not support large folios. This triggers WARNONONCE(foliotestlarge(folio)) in kvmgmemfaultusermapping().

For secretmem, collapsefile() tries to copy page contents through the direct map, but secretmem pages are removed from the direct map. This can result in a kernel crash:

BUG: unable to handle page fault for address: ffff88810284d000 RIP: 0010:memcpyorig+0x16/0x130 Call Trace: collapsefile hpagecollapsescanfile madvisecollapse

Secretmem is not affected by the crash on upstream as the memory failure recovery handles the failed copy gracefully, but it still triggers confusing false memory failure reports:

Memory failure: 0x106d96f: recovery action for clean unevictable LRU page: Recovered

Check ISANONFILE(inode) in filethpenabled() to deny THP for all anonymous inode files.

Affected Software

161 affected componentsFixes available
Linux Linux kernel
Linux Linux kernel>=6.8.1<6.12.78
Linux Linux kernel>=6.13<6.18.17
Linux Linux kernel>=6.19<6.19.7
Linux Linux kernel=6.8
Linux Linux kernel=7.0-rc1
Linux Linux kernel=7.0-rc2
Linux Linux kernel=7.0-rc3
Linux Linux kernel=7.0-rc4
Linux Linux kernel=7.0-rc5
Linux Linux kernel=7.0-rc6
Linux Linux kernel=7.0-rc7
debian/linux
6.1.176-16.1.190-16.12.107-16.12.115-27.2.12-17.2.15-1
ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.0*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-azure-edge*
ubuntu/linux-gcp*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-gke-4.15*
ubuntu/linux-gke-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-hwe*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*
ubuntu/linux-oem*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.0*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-gke*
ubuntu/linux-gke-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-intel-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.10*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.6*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-raspi2*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-allwinner-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8<6.8.0-1061.64~22.04.1
6.8.0-1061.64~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8<6.8.0-1063.71~22.04.1
6.8.0-1063.71~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8<6.8.0-1062.69~22.04.1
6.8.0-1062.69~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8<6.8.0-1064.72~22.04.1
6.8.0-1064.72~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.8<6.8.0-136.136~22.04.1
6.8.0-136.136~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8<6.8.0-1061.62~22.04.1
6.8.0-1061.62~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8<6.8.0-136.136.2~22.04.1
6.8.0-136.136.2~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8<6.8.0-1059.62~22.04.1
6.8.0-1059.62~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.17*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.0*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.1*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8<6.8.0-1058.61~22.04.1
6.8.0-1058.61~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8<6.8.0-136.136~22.04.3
6.8.0-136.136~22.04.3
ubuntu/linux-starfive-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8<6.8.1-1056.57~22.04.2
6.8.1-1056.57~22.04.2
ubuntu/linux<6.8.0-136.136
6.8.0-136.136
ubuntu/linux-aws<6.8.0-1061.64
6.8.0-1061.64
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-azure<6.8.0-1063.71
6.8.0-1063.71
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<6.8.0-1062.69
6.8.0-1062.69
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia*
ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-gcp<6.8.0-1064.72
6.8.0-1064.72
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-gke<6.8.0-1059.67
6.8.0-1059.67
ubuntu/linux-gkeop<6.8.0-1046.50
6.8.0-1046.50
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-ibm<6.8.0-1061.62
6.8.0-1061.62
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<6.8.0-136.136.2
6.8.0-136.136.2
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia<6.8.0-1059.62
6.8.0-1059.62
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency<6.8.0-1059.62.1
6.8.0-1059.62.1
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra<6.8.0-1030.31
6.8.0-1030.31
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-oracle<6.8.0-1058.61
6.8.0-1058.61
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-raspi<6.8.0-1061.65
6.8.0-1061.65
ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-xilinx<6.8.0-1033.34
6.8.0-1033.34
ubuntu/linux-bluefield<6.8.0-1028.33
6.8.0-1028.33
ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime<6.8.0-2050.52
6.8.0-2050.52
ubuntu/linux-realtime<6.8.1-1056.57
6.8.1-1056.57
ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<6.8.0-1061.64+fips1
6.8.0-1061.64+fips1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<6.8.0-1063.71+fips2
6.8.0-1063.71+fips2
ubuntu/linux-fips<6.8.0-136.136+fips2
6.8.0-136.136+fips2
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<6.8.0-1064.72+fips1
6.8.0-1064.72+fips1
ubuntu/linux*
ubuntu/linux-aws*
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*
ubuntu/linux-gcp*
ubuntu/linux-oracle*
ubuntu/linux-raspi*
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.1.176-1Fixed in 6.1.190-1Fixed in 6.12.107-1Fixed in 6.12.115-2Fixed in 7.2.12-1Fixed in 7.2.15-1
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1061.64~22.04.1
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1063.71~22.04.1
  4. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1062.69~22.04.1
  5. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1064.72~22.04.1
  6. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-136.136~22.04.1
  7. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1061.62~22.04.1
  8. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-136.136.2~22.04.1
  9. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1059.62~22.04.1
  10. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1058.61~22.04.1
  11. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-136.136~22.04.3
  12. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.1-1056.57~22.04.2
  13. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-136.136
  14. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1061.64
  15. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1063.71
  16. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1062.69
  17. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1064.72
  18. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1059.67
  19. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gkeop to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1046.50
  20. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1061.62
  21. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-136.136.2
  22. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1059.62
  23. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1059.62.1
  24. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1030.31
  25. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1058.61
  26. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1061.65
  27. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-xilinx to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1033.34
  28. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-bluefield to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1028.33
  29. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-2050.52
  30. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.1-1056.57
  31. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1061.64+fips1
  32. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1063.71+fips2
  33. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-136.136+fips2
  34. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1064.72+fips1
  35. Configuration

    Add an IS_ANON_FILE(inode) check in file_thp_enabled() to deny transparent huge pages for all anonymous inode files, including guest_memfd and secretmem.

    Linux kernel THP file_thp_enabled() anonymous-inode eligibility = deny THP

Event History

Mar 25, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·10:27 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·10:27 AM
Description
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·11:04 AM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Data Sourced
via OSV·11:16 AM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Event
via OSV·11:16 AM
Data Sourced
via NVD·11:16 AM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-23375?

CVE-2026-23375 has a high severity rating due to the potential risk it poses to file integrity on systems using the affected version of the Linux kernel.

2

How do I fix CVE-2026-23375?

To fix CVE-2026-23375, you should update your Linux kernel to the latest version provided by your distribution that includes the patch for this vulnerability.

3

What type of files are affected by CVE-2026-23375?

CVE-2026-23375 affects files on anonymous inodes, such as guest_memfd and secretmem in the Linux kernel.

4

What does CVE-2026-23375 allow that is considered a vulnerability?

CVE-2026-23375 allows transparent huge pages (THP) for files on anonymous inodes, which should not be permitted, leading to potential security issues.

5

What systems are impacted by CVE-2026-23375?

CVE-2026-23375 impacts systems running affected versions of the Linux kernel where THP is enabled for files on anonymous inodes.

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