CVE-2026-64294: mm: do file ownership checks with the proper mount idmap

Published Jul 25, 2026
·
Updated

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

mm: do file ownership checks with the proper mount idmap

Ever since idmapped mounts were introduced, inode ownership checks (for side-channel protection) in mincore() and madvise(MADVPAGEOUT) were done against the nopmntidmap, which completely ignores the file's mount's idmap. This results in odd edgecases like:

1) mount/bind-mount with an idmap userA:userB:1 2) userB runs an ownerorcapable() check on file that is owned by userA on-disk/in-memory, but owned by userB after idmap translation 3) ownerorcapable() mysteriously fails as the correct idmap wasn't supplied

In the case of mincore/madvise MADVPAGEOUT, this is usually benign, because filepermission(file, MAYWRITE) will probably succeed, as it uses the proper idmap internally, but it does not need to be the case on e.g a 0444 file where even the owner itself doesn't have permissions to write to it.

Since this is clearly not trivial to get right, introduce a fileownerorcapable() that can carry the correct semantics, and switch the various users in mm to it.

The issue was found by manual code inspection & an off-list discussion with Jan Kara.

Affected Software

8 affected componentsFixes available
Linux Linux kernel
Microsoft azl3 kernel 6.6.144.1-1<6.6.145.2-1
6.6.145.2-1
Linux Linux kernel>=5.12<6.6.145
Linux Linux kernel>=6.7<6.12.96
Linux Linux kernel>=6.13<6.18.39
Linux Linux kernel>=6.19<7.1.4
Linux Linux kernel=7.2-rc1
Linux Linux kernel=7.2-rc2

Event History

Jul 25, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·08:49 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·08:49 AM
Description
Data Sourced
via NVD·10:17 AM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Jul 26, 2026
Data Sourced
via Microsoft·08:01 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via Microsoft·08:01 AM
Affected Software
Updated
via Microsoft·08:01 AM
DescriptionSeverity

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-64294?

CVE-2026-64294 has a severity rating of high with a score of 7.1.

2

How do I fix CVE-2026-64294?

To fix CVE-2026-64294, you should apply the available patches provided for the Linux kernel.

3

What does CVE-2026-64294 affect?

CVE-2026-64294 affects the Linux kernel, specifically concerning file ownership checks with the proper mount idmap.

4

When was CVE-2026-64294 published?

CVE-2026-64294 was published on July 25, 2026.

5

How can CVE-2026-64294 impact system security?

CVE-2026-64294 can potentially lead to unauthorized file access due to improper ownership checks, affecting data integrity and confidentiality.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203