CVE-2026-72212: mm/memory_hotplug: fix incorrect altmap passing in error path

Published Aug 15, 2026
·
Updated

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

mm/memoryhotplug: fix incorrect altmap passing in error path

In createaltmapsandmemoryblocks(), when archaddmemory() succeeds with memmaponmemory enabled, the vmemmap pages are allocated from params.altmap. If creatememoryblockdevices() subsequently fails, the error path calls archremovememory() with a NULL altmap instead of params.altmap.

This is a bug that could lead to memory corruption. Since altmap is NULL, vmemmapfree() falls back to freeing the vmemmap pages into the system buddy allocator via freepages() instead of the altmap. archremovememory() then immediately destroys the physical linear mapping for this memory. This injects unowned pages into the buddy allocator, causing machine checks or memory corruption if the system later attempts to allocate and use those freed pages.

Fix this by passing params.altmap to archremovememory() in the error path.

Affected Software

165 affected componentsFixes available
Linux Linux kernel
linux/kernel>=6.8.0<6.12.97
6.12.97
linux/kernel>=6.13.0<6.18.40
6.18.40
linux/kernel>=6.19.0<7.1.5
7.1.5
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*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8*
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*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8*
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*
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-starfive-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8*
ubuntu/linux<6.8.0-147.147
6.8.0-147.147
ubuntu/linux-aws<6.8.0-1067.70
6.8.0-1067.70
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-aws-7.0<7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1
7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure<6.8.0-1071.79
6.8.0-1071.79
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-azure-7.0<7.0.0-1017.17~24.04.1
7.0.0-1017.17~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<6.8.0-1069.76
6.8.0-1069.76
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-7.0<7.0.0-1016.16~24.04.1
7.0.0-1016.16~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia*
ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-gcp<6.8.0-1071.79
6.8.0-1071.79
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-7.0<7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1
7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-gke<6.8.0-1066.74
6.8.0-1066.74
ubuntu/linux-gkeop<6.8.0-1052.56
6.8.0-1052.56
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-7.0<7.0.0-38.38~24.04.4
7.0.0-38.38~24.04.4
ubuntu/linux-ibm<6.8.0-1067.68
6.8.0-1067.68
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<6.8.0-147.147.1
6.8.0-147.147.1
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-7.0*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-oracle<6.8.0-1064.67
6.8.0-1064.67
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-7.0<7.0.0-1013.13~24.04.1
7.0.0-1013.13~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-raspi*
ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-7.0<7.0.0-38.38.1~24.04.1
7.0.0-38.38.1~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-xilinx*
ubuntu/linux-bluefield<6.8.0-1033.38
6.8.0-1033.38
ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-realtime<6.8.1-1062.63
6.8.1-1062.63
ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<6.8.0-1067.70+fips1
6.8.0-1067.70+fips1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<6.8.0-1071.79+fips1
6.8.0-1071.79+fips1
ubuntu/linux-fips<6.8.0-147.147+fips1
6.8.0-147.147+fips1
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<6.8.0-1071.79+fips1
6.8.0-1071.79+fips1
ubuntu/linux<7.0.0-38.38
7.0.0-38.38
ubuntu/linux-aws<7.0.0-1014.14
7.0.0-1014.14
ubuntu/linux-azure<7.0.0-1017.17
7.0.0-1017.17
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<7.0.0-1016.16
7.0.0-1016.16
ubuntu/linux-gcp<7.0.0-1014.14
7.0.0-1014.14
ubuntu/linux-gke<7.0.0-1008.9
7.0.0-1008.9
ubuntu/linux-ibm<7.0.0-1015.15
7.0.0-1015.15
ubuntu/linux-nvidia*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-bos*
ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0<7.0.0-1015.15
7.0.0-1015.15
ubuntu/linux-oracle<7.0.0-1013.13
7.0.0-1013.13
ubuntu/linux-raspi*
ubuntu/linux-realtime<7.0.0-38.38.1
7.0.0-38.38.1
ubuntu/linux-riscv<7.0.0-38.38.1
7.0.0-38.38.1

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.12.97
  2. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.18.40
  3. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 7.1.5
  4. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-147.147
  5. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.70
  6. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1
  7. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.79
  8. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17~24.04.1
  9. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1069.76
  10. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.16~24.04.1
  11. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.79
  12. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1
  13. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1066.74
  14. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1052.56
  15. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-38.38~24.04.4
  16. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.68
  17. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-147.147.1
  18. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1064.67
  19. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1013.13~24.04.1
  20. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-38.38.1~24.04.1
  21. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1033.38
  22. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.1-1062.63
  23. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.70+fips1
  24. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.79+fips1
  25. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-147.147+fips1
  26. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.79+fips1
  27. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 7.0.0-38.38
  28. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14
  29. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17
  30. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.16
  31. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14
  32. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1008.9
  33. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1015.15
  34. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1015.15
  35. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1013.13
  36. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 7.0.0-38.38.1
  37. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 7.0.0-38.38.1
  38. Compensating control

    In the create_memory_block_devices() error path, pass params.altmap to arch_remove_memory() instead of NULL when removing memory after arch_add_memory() succeeds with memmap_on_memory enabled.

Event History

Aug 15, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·05:54 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·05:54 AM
Description
Data Sourced
via OSV·05:54 AM
DescriptionAffected Software
Data Sourced
via OSV·06:21 AM
Severity
Data Sourced
via NVD·06:21 AM
Description

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-72212?

CVE-2026-72212 has a risk rating of 52, indicating a moderate level of severity.

2

What is the nature of CVE-2026-72212's vulnerability?

CVE-2026-72212 involves an incorrect altmap passing in the error path within the Linux kernel's memory hotplug functionality.

3

When was CVE-2026-72212 published?

CVE-2026-72212 was published on August 15, 2026.

4

How do I fix CVE-2026-72212?

To fix CVE-2026-72212, ensure your system is updated with the latest Linux kernel patches that address this vulnerability.

5

What systems are affected by CVE-2026-72212?

CVE-2026-72212 affects systems using the Linux kernel that utilize memory hotplug functionalities.

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