Linux Kernel up to 6.18.26/7.0.3 decay_va_pool_node privilege escalation

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.26/7.0.3. This issue affects the function decay_va_pool_node. The manipulation results in an unknown weakness. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-46093. There is no available exploit. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.26/7.0.3. The impact remains unknown. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm/vmalloc: take vmap_purge_lock in shrinker decay_va_pool_node() can be invoked concurrently from two paths: __purge_vmap_area_lazy() when pools are being purged, and the shrinker via vmap_node_shrink_scan(). However, decay_va_pool_node() is not safe to run concurrently, and the shrinker path currently lacks serialization, leading to races and possible leaks. Protect decay_va_pool_node() by taking vmap_purge_lock in the shrinker path to ensure serialization with purge users.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-46093 since 05/13/2026. The exploitability is told to be difficult. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 06/26/2026).

Upgrading to version 6.18.27, 7.0.4 or 7.1-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 687ccdf582169cd680aeaf24cc953807c4cd4345/12f2341b4c235d5593a433abac201c1c6725787f/ec05f51f1e65bce95528543eb73fda56fd201d94 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.18.0
• 6.18.1
• 6.18.2
• 6.18.3
• 6.18.4
• 6.18.5
• 6.18.6
• 6.18.7
• 6.18.8
• 6.18.9
• 6.18.10
• 6.18.11
• 6.18.12
• 6.18.13
• 6.18.14
• 6.18.15
• 6.18.16
• 6.18.17
• 6.18.18
• 6.18.19
• 6.18.20
• 6.18.21
• 6.18.22
• 6.18.23
• 6.18.24
• 6.18.25
• 6.18.26
• 7.0.0
• 7.0.1
• 7.0.2
• 7.0.3

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

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