UBUNTU-CVE-2026-74672: Use After Free

Published Aug 22, 2026
·
Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm/vmalloc: acquire initmm lock on huge vmap to avoid ptdump UAF Patch series "mm: fix UAF caused by race between ptdump and vmap pgtable freeing", v6. Kernel page table walkers fall into two broad categories - those ranges where no exclusion is required via walkkernelpagetablerangelockless() and those where exclusion is required via walkkernelpagetablerange() or walkpagerangedebug(). The former category is used only by arm64 arch code operating on ranges it both wholly owns and does not concurrently write. The latter category consists of kernel page table walkers operating on ranges that are wholly owned (but which need exclusion against concurrent writers). The lock used for exclusion is the mmap lock, and for kernel ranges this is the mmap lock on initmm. ptdump is a special case being both the only user of walkpagerangedebug(), and the only case in which it walks ranges it does not own. This presents a problem, as page tables may be freed under ptdump. And indeed there is a use-after-free bug in the kernel as a result, which this series addresses. vmap promotes page tables to huge leaf entries where possible, freeing the lower page table when it does. It does this with no meaningful locks held against concurrent ptdump walks. As a result, use-after-free can currently occur. This series addresses the issue by having the vmap huge promotion logic acquire the mmap read lock while both setting the huge page table entry and freeing the prior leaf page table. The ptdump code already acquires the mmap write lock, so by doing so we ensure that the ptdump walker only ever observes either the huge page table entry or the existing page table entry, and nothing is freed underneath it. A mitigation for this issue was already applied for arm64 in commit fa93b45fd397 ("arm64: Enable vmalloc-huge with ptdump"), which this series has to deal with carefully. This mitigation resolves the issue by acquiring the mmap read lock on initmm on vmap page table free if a ptdump is in progress. However the fix in this series would cause a deadlock if we were to simply apply it for arm64 without also reverting the change. This is because vmap may acquire the read lock before ptdump attempts to acquire the write lock, which then gets queued, and rwsem starvation rules mean that the (unacknowledged) nested mmap read lock in the arm64 code would also block, meaning the original read lock is never released and thus deadlock. This series works around this by #ifndef CONFIGARM64'ing the mmap read lock in vmap logic, then partially reverting commit fa93b45fd397 ("arm64: Enable vmalloc-huge with ptdump"), keeping the enablement of huge vmap support, and removing the ifdeffery with the partial revert patch. There are related issues that are also addressed in this series: x86 page attribute logic, specifically Change Page Attributes (CPA), implements a feature whereby huge ranges can be collapsed into huge leaf entries. This can similarly cause a UAF when done in parallel with a ptdump walk, so similarly acquire the initmm mmap lock to avoid this. The CPA logic allows concurrent page table manipulation and CPA collapse, meaning the former risks accessing a page table the latter frees. Fix this by acquiring mmap write lock on initmm across the whole CPA collapse operation and read lock on the page table manipulation. x86 and arm64 permit walks of non-kernel mm's (both allowing efi mm walks, and in x86's case arbitrary mm's), so we ensure kernel mappings remain stable by locking the initmm as well as the mm being walked. The ordering of patches is established for both strict dependencies (the arm64 partial revert in particular has to be done after the vmap changes) and logical ones (the non-kernel mm fix only makes sense once the vmap/CPA fixes are in place). This patch (of 3): Currently there is a nasty ra ---truncated---

Affected Software

253 affected componentsFixes available
ubuntu/linux-aws*
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-lts-xenial*
ubuntu/linux*
ubuntu/linux-aws*
ubuntu/linux-aws-hwe*
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-gcp*
ubuntu/linux-hwe*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*
ubuntu/linux-kvm*
ubuntu/linux-oracle*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux*
ubuntu/linux-aws*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.0*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-azure-4.15*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-azure-edge*
ubuntu/linux-gcp*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-4.15*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-gke-4.15*
ubuntu/linux-gke-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-hwe*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*
ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-kvm*
ubuntu/linux-oem*
ubuntu/linux-oracle*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.0*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-raspi-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*
ubuntu/linux*
ubuntu/linux-aws*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-bluefield*
ubuntu/linux-gcp*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15*
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-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-ibm*
ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-intel-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-iot*
ubuntu/linux-kvm*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.10*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.6*
ubuntu/linux-oracle*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-raspi*
ubuntu/linux-raspi2*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmp*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*
ubuntu/linux*
ubuntu/linux-allwinner-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-aws*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-gcp*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-gke*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-ibm*
ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg*
ubuntu/linux-kvm*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency*
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*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-igx*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.17*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.0*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.1*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-oracle*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-raspi*
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-xilinx-zynqmp*
ubuntu/linux-bluefield*
ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*
ubuntu/linux*
ubuntu/linux-aws*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-aws-7.0*
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-azure-7.0*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-7.0*
ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia*
ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-gcp*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-7.0*
ubuntu/linux-gke*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-7.0<7.0.0-42.42~24.04.1
7.0.0-42.42~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-ibm*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency*
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*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-7.0*
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<7.0.0-42.42.1~24.04.1
7.0.0-42.42.1~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-xilinx*
ubuntu/linux-bluefield*
ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*
ubuntu/linux<7.0.0-42.42
7.0.0-42.42
ubuntu/linux-aws<7.0.0-1016.17
7.0.0-1016.17
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*
ubuntu/linux-gcp<7.0.0-1016.18
7.0.0-1016.18
ubuntu/linux-gke*
ubuntu/linux-ibm<7.0.0-1017.17
7.0.0-1017.17
ubuntu/linux-nvidia*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-bos*
ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0<7.0.0-1017.17
7.0.0-1017.17
ubuntu/linux-oracle<7.0.0-1015.16
7.0.0-1015.16
ubuntu/linux-raspi*
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-riscv<7.0.0-42.42.1
7.0.0-42.42.1

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42~24.04.1
  2. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42.1~24.04.1
  3. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42
  4. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.17
  5. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.18
  6. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17
  7. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17
  8. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1015.16
  9. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42.1
  10. Compensating control

    Acquire the init_mm mmap write lock across the entire x86 Change Page Attributes (CPA) collapse operation, and acquire the mmap read lock during page-table manipulation so CPA cannot free page tables concurrently with ptdump walks.

  11. Compensating control

    Have vmap huge-promotion logic acquire the init_mm mmap read lock while setting the huge page-table entry and freeing the prior leaf page table; for vmap page-table freeing, acquire this read lock when a ptdump is in progress.

  12. Compensating control

    Partially revert commit fa93b45fd397 ("arm64: Enable vmalloc-huge with ptdump") as required for the locking fix, while retaining huge-vmap support and removing the related conditional compilation workaround.

Event History

Aug 22, 2026
CVE Published
via OSV·04:16 PM
Data Sourced
via OSV·04:16 PM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

1

Which Ubuntu kernel packages are listed as affected?

The listed packages are ubuntu/linux, ubuntu/linux-aws, ubuntu/linux-azure, ubuntu/linux-gcp, ubuntu/linux-fips, ubuntu/linux-aws-fips, ubuntu/linux-azure-fips, and ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips.

2

What concurrent activity is required for the use-after-free condition?

The issue arises when ptdump walks kernel page-table ranges while vmap-related page tables can be freed concurrently. The affected walk is unusual because ptdump can inspect ranges it does not own, requiring exclusion against concurrent writers.

3

What locking change addresses the issue?

The fix acquires the init_mm mmap lock for the relevant kernel page-table walk. This prevents page tables from being freed while ptdump is walking them.

Contact

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