CVE-2026-68164: mm/damon/core: disallow overlapping input ranges for damon_set_regions()
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
mm/damon/core: disallow overlapping input ranges for damonsetregions()
damonsetregions() assumes the input ranges are sorted by the address and don't overlap each other. Hence the assumption was initially to be explicitly validated. But commit 97d482f4592f ("mm/damon/sysfs: reuse damonsetregions() for regions setting") has mistakenly removed the validation.
This can make DAMON behave in unexpected ways. At the best, the monitoring results snapshot will just look weird since there will be overlapping regions. DAMOS will also work weirdly, applying the same action multiple times for overlapping regions, and make DAMOS quota weird. More seriously, depending on the setup and regions updates sequence, negative size regions can be made. It will trigger WARNONCE() if the kernel is built with CONFIGDAMONDEBUGSANITY=y. Depending on the monitoring results, the negative size region can further trigger division by zero in damonmergetworegions().
Note that some of the consequences including the WARNONCE() and the divide by zero depend on commits that were introduced after the root cause commit 97d482f4592f ("mm/damon/sysfs: reuse damonsetregions() for regions setting").
Fix the problems by checking the assumption and returning an error if the input ranges don't meet the assumption.
The issue was discovered [1] by Sashiko.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
Linux kernel (mm/damon/sysfs & mm/damon/core)to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Patch 97d482f4592f - Configuration
Ensure the kernel is built with CONFIG_DAMON_DEBUG_SANITY=y (stated as the configuration used to trigger WARN_ONCE and detect the issue).
Linux kernel DAMON CONFIG_DAMON_DEBUG_SANITY = y - Compensating control
If using DAMON/DAMOS, avoid configuring DAMON region sets with overlapping input ranges; provide input ranges that are sorted by address and non-overlapping so damon_set_regions() assumptions are met.
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-68164?
CVE-2026-68164 has a risk score of 27, indicating a moderate severity level.
How do I fix CVE-2026-68164?
To fix CVE-2026-68164, update your Linux kernel to the latest version that has addressed this vulnerability.
What is the impact of CVE-2026-68164?
CVE-2026-68164 can lead to potential security issues due to incorrect input range validation in damon_set_regions() within the Linux kernel.
What does CVE-2026-68164 address in the Linux kernel?
CVE-2026-68164 addresses the validation of input ranges in the damon_set_regions() function to prevent overlapping ranges.
Which Linux kernel versions are affected by CVE-2026-68164?
CVE-2026-68164 affects Linux kernel versions prior to the patches released on August 10, 2026.