Linux Kernel up to 6.12.100/6.18.39/7.1.4 Hugetlb Cgroup mm/page_counter.c alloc_hugetlb_folio integer overflow

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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9.5$5k-$25k0.00+

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.100/6.18.39/7.1.4 and classified as very critical. This issue affects the function alloc_hugetlb_folio of the file mm/page_counter.c of the component Hugetlb Cgroup. Such manipulation leads to integer overflow. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2026-72213. The attack may be performed from remote. There is no available exploit.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as very critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.100/6.18.39/7.1.4. Affected by this issue is the function alloc_hugetlb_folio of the file mm/page_counter.c of the component Hugetlb Cgroup. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a integer overflow vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-190. The product performs a calculation that can produce an integer overflow or wraparound, when the logic assumes that the resulting value will always be larger than the original value. This can introduce other weaknesses when the calculation is used for resource management or execution control. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm/hugetlb: fix hugetlb cgroup rsvd charge/uncharge mismatch In alloc_hugetlb_folio(), a single h_cg pointer is used for both the rsvd and non-rsvd hugetlb cgroup charges. When map_chg is set, hugetlb_cgroup_charge_cgroup_rsvd() stores the charged cgroup in h_cg, but the immediately following hugetlb_cgroup_charge_cgroup() overwrites h_cg with the non-rsvd cgroup pointer. As a result, hugetlb_cgroup_commit_charge_rsvd() stores the wrong (non-rsvd) cgroup pointer into the folio's rsvd slot. When the folio is later freed, free_huge_folio() unconditionally calls both hugetlb_cgroup_uncharge_folio() and hugetlb_cgroup_uncharge_folio_rsvd(). The rsvd uncharge reads back the wrong cgroup from the folio and decrements a counter that was never charged for that cgroup, causing a page_counter underflow: page_counter underflow: -512 nr_pages=512 WARNING: mm/page_counter.c:61 at page_counter_cancel Fix this by introducing a separate h_cg_rsvd pointer exclusively for the rsvd charge path, keeping the rsvd and non-rsvd charges fully independent through their charge, commit, and error uncharge paths.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-72213 since 08/09/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be launched remotely. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $5k-$25k (estimation calculated on 08/15/2026).

Upgrading to version 6.12.101, 6.18.40, 7.1.5 or 7.2-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 5c32ae4a91fb5f4941328e0c1720a7fa4189c3bd/1697d253f51cf5e3825a3423ff49e128a3502ab2/b785f2bd9496facedc0a031be09cddcd1d3c84d3/15807d0ddde37407af72859426b654f3d1972b00 is able to eliminate this problem.

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Productinfo

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Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 9.9
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.5

VulDB Base Score: 9.9
VulDB Temp Score: 9.5
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Integer overflow
CWE: CWE-190 / CWE-189
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.12.101/6.18.40/7.1.5/7.2-rc1
Patch: 5c32ae4a91fb5f4941328e0c1720a7fa4189c3bd/1697d253f51cf5e3825a3423ff49e128a3502ab2/b785f2bd9496facedc0a031be09cddcd1d3c84d3/15807d0ddde37407af72859426b654f3d1972b00

Timelineinfo

08/09/2026 CVE reserved
08/15/2026 +6 days Advisory disclosed
08/15/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
08/15/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-72213 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-72213
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-390548

Entryinfo

Created: 08/15/2026 12:42
Changes: 08/15/2026 12:42 (60)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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