Linux Kernel up to 6.18.50/7.2.4 Page Allocation mm/page_alloc.c free_pages_nolock privileges management

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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Current Exploit Price (≈)
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CTI Interest Score
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4.2$0-$5k0.00-

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as problematic has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.50/7.2.4. This impacts the function free_pages_nolock of the file mm/page_alloc.c of the component Page Allocation. Executing a manipulation can lead to privileges management. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2026-90046. The attack requires local access. There is no available exploit. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.50/7.2.4. It has been declared as problematic. This vulnerability affects the function free_pages_nolock of the file mm/page_alloc.c of the component Page Allocation. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a privileges management vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-269. The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor. As an impact it is known to affect integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm/page_alloc: don't spin_trylock() in NMI on UP Patch series "mm/page_alloc: fixes for free_pages_nolock() on RT/UP". Pre-existing bugs found by Sashiko during review of this other series: https://lore.kernel.org/all/[email protected]/ I have not reproduced these bugs, and I suspect there is no real-world user that is affected by them. This patch (of 2): As noted in can_spin_trylock(), using this is unsafe in this context. commit 620b46ed6ae17 ("mm/page_alloc: return NULL early from alloc_frozen_pages_nolock() in NMI on UP") fixed this on the alloc side but missed the free side. Impact: If BPF programs using these features in NMI (probably tracing) are present on non-SMP builds this might crash the kernel and is probably exploitable by local attackers for privilege escalation.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-90046 since 09/11/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. Local access is required to approach this attack. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 09/16/2026). This vulnerability is assigned to T1068 by the MITRE ATT&CK project.

Upgrading to version 6.18.51, 7.2.5 or 7.3-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 06c76d3c389ff504052f64b1acee44651bd847fa/68a069b407303e71db371df85036101e8ff59280/3105ae628fb785d48b49256468be4f21a7b3cfc0 is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

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Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.2

VulDB Base Score: 4.4
VulDB Temp Score: 4.2
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Privileges management
CWE: CWE-269 / CWE-266
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

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 6.18.51/7.2.5/7.3-rc1
Patch: 06c76d3c389ff504052f64b1acee44651bd847fa/68a069b407303e71db371df85036101e8ff59280/3105ae628fb785d48b49256468be4f21a7b3cfc0

Timelineinfo

09/11/2026 CVE reserved
09/16/2026 +5 days Advisory disclosed
09/16/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
09/16/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-90046 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-90046
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-405898

Entryinfo

Created: 09/16/2026 15:38
Changes: 09/16/2026 15:38 (60)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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