In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
mm: vmscan: account for free pages to prevent infinite Loop in throttle_direct_reclaim()
The task sometimes continues looping in throttle_direct_reclaim() because
allow_direct_reclaim(pgdat) keeps returning false.
#0 [ffff80002cb6f8d0] __switch_to at ffff8000080095ac
#1 [ffff80002cb6f900] __schedule at ffff800008abbd1c
#2 [ffff80002cb6f990] schedule at ffff800008abc50c
#3 [ffff80002cb6f9b0] throttle_direct_reclaim at ffff800008273550
#4 [ffff80002cb6fa20] try_to_free_pages at ffff800008277b68
#5 [ffff80002cb6fae0] __alloc_pages_nodemask at ffff8000082c4660
#6 [ffff80002cb6fc50] alloc_pages_vma at ffff8000082e4a98
#7 [ffff80002cb6fca0] do_anonymous_page at ffff80000829f5a8
#8 [ffff80002cb6fce0] __handle_mm_fault at ffff8000082a5974
#9 [ffff80002cb6fd90] handle_mm_fault at ffff8000082a5bd4
At this point, the pgdat contains the following two zones:
NODE: 4 ZONE: 0 ADDR: ffff00817fffe540 NAME: "DMA32"
SIZE: 20480 MIN/LOW/HIGH: 11/28/45
VM_STAT:
NR_FREE_PAGES: 359
NR_ZONE_INACTIVE_ANON: 18813
NR_ZONE_ACTIVE_ANON: 0
NR_ZONE_INACTIVE_FILE: 50
NR_ZONE_ACTIVE_FILE: 0
NR_ZONE_UNEVICTABLE: 0
NR_ZONE_WRITE_PENDING: 0
NR_MLOCK: 0
NR_BOUNCE: 0
NR_ZSPAGES: 0
NR_FREE_CMA_PAGES: 0
NODE: 4 ZONE: 1 ADDR: ffff00817fffec00 NAME: "Normal"
SIZE: 8454144 PRESENT: 98304 MIN/LOW/HIGH: 68/166/264
VM_STAT:
NR_FREE_PAGES: 146
NR_ZONE_INACTIVE_ANON: 94668
NR_ZONE_ACTIVE_ANON: 3
NR_ZONE_INACTIVE_FILE: 735
NR_ZONE_ACTIVE_FILE: 78
NR_ZONE_UNEVICTABLE: 0
NR_ZONE_WRITE_PENDING: 0
NR_MLOCK: 0
NR_BOUNCE: 0
NR_ZSPAGES: 0
NR_FREE_CMA_PAGES: 0
In allow_direct_reclaim(), while processing ZONE_DMA32, the sum of
inactive/active file-backed pages calculated in zone_reclaimable_pages()
based on the result of zone_page_state_snapshot() is zero.
Additionally, since this system lacks swap, the calculation of inactive/
active anonymous pages is skipped.
crash> p nr_swap_pages
nr_swap_pages = $1937 = {
counter = 0
}
As a result, ZONE_DMA32 is deemed unreclaimable and skipped, moving on to
the processing of the next zone, ZONE_NORMAL, despite ZONE_DMA32 having
free pages significantly exceeding the high watermark.
The problem is that the pgdat->kswapd_failures hasn't been incremented.
crash> px ((struct pglist_data *) 0xffff00817fffe540)->kswapd_failures
$1935 = 0x0
This is because the node deemed balanced. The node balancing logic in
balance_pgdat() evaluates all zones collectively. If one or more zones
(e.g., ZONE_DMA32) have enough free pages to meet their watermarks, the
entire node is deemed balanced. This causes balance_pgdat() to exit early
before incrementing the kswapd_failures, as it considers the overall
memory state acceptable, even though some zones (like ZONE_NORMAL) remain
under significant pressure.
The patch ensures that zone_reclaimable_pages() includes free pages
(NR_FREE_PAGES) in its calculation when no other reclaimable pages are
available (e.g., file-backed or anonymous pages). This change prevents
zones like ZONE_DMA32, which have sufficient free pages, from being
mistakenly deemed unreclaimable. By doing so, the patch ensures proper
node balancing, avoids masking pressure on other zones like ZONE_NORMAL,
and prevents infinite loops in throttle_direct_reclaim() caused by
allow_direct_reclaim(pgdat) repeatedly returning false.
The kernel hangs due to a task stuck in throttle_direct_reclaim(), caused
by a node being incorrectly deemed balanced despite pressure in certain
zones, such as ZONE_NORMAL. This issue arises from
zone_reclaimable_pages
---truncated---
            mm: vmscan: account for free pages to prevent infinite Loop in throttle_direct_reclaim()
The task sometimes continues looping in throttle_direct_reclaim() because
allow_direct_reclaim(pgdat) keeps returning false.
#0 [ffff80002cb6f8d0] __switch_to at ffff8000080095ac
#1 [ffff80002cb6f900] __schedule at ffff800008abbd1c
#2 [ffff80002cb6f990] schedule at ffff800008abc50c
#3 [ffff80002cb6f9b0] throttle_direct_reclaim at ffff800008273550
#4 [ffff80002cb6fa20] try_to_free_pages at ffff800008277b68
#5 [ffff80002cb6fae0] __alloc_pages_nodemask at ffff8000082c4660
#6 [ffff80002cb6fc50] alloc_pages_vma at ffff8000082e4a98
#7 [ffff80002cb6fca0] do_anonymous_page at ffff80000829f5a8
#8 [ffff80002cb6fce0] __handle_mm_fault at ffff8000082a5974
#9 [ffff80002cb6fd90] handle_mm_fault at ffff8000082a5bd4
At this point, the pgdat contains the following two zones:
NODE: 4 ZONE: 0 ADDR: ffff00817fffe540 NAME: "DMA32"
SIZE: 20480 MIN/LOW/HIGH: 11/28/45
VM_STAT:
NR_FREE_PAGES: 359
NR_ZONE_INACTIVE_ANON: 18813
NR_ZONE_ACTIVE_ANON: 0
NR_ZONE_INACTIVE_FILE: 50
NR_ZONE_ACTIVE_FILE: 0
NR_ZONE_UNEVICTABLE: 0
NR_ZONE_WRITE_PENDING: 0
NR_MLOCK: 0
NR_BOUNCE: 0
NR_ZSPAGES: 0
NR_FREE_CMA_PAGES: 0
NODE: 4 ZONE: 1 ADDR: ffff00817fffec00 NAME: "Normal"
SIZE: 8454144 PRESENT: 98304 MIN/LOW/HIGH: 68/166/264
VM_STAT:
NR_FREE_PAGES: 146
NR_ZONE_INACTIVE_ANON: 94668
NR_ZONE_ACTIVE_ANON: 3
NR_ZONE_INACTIVE_FILE: 735
NR_ZONE_ACTIVE_FILE: 78
NR_ZONE_UNEVICTABLE: 0
NR_ZONE_WRITE_PENDING: 0
NR_MLOCK: 0
NR_BOUNCE: 0
NR_ZSPAGES: 0
NR_FREE_CMA_PAGES: 0
In allow_direct_reclaim(), while processing ZONE_DMA32, the sum of
inactive/active file-backed pages calculated in zone_reclaimable_pages()
based on the result of zone_page_state_snapshot() is zero.
Additionally, since this system lacks swap, the calculation of inactive/
active anonymous pages is skipped.
crash> p nr_swap_pages
nr_swap_pages = $1937 = {
counter = 0
}
As a result, ZONE_DMA32 is deemed unreclaimable and skipped, moving on to
the processing of the next zone, ZONE_NORMAL, despite ZONE_DMA32 having
free pages significantly exceeding the high watermark.
The problem is that the pgdat->kswapd_failures hasn't been incremented.
crash> px ((struct pglist_data *) 0xffff00817fffe540)->kswapd_failures
$1935 = 0x0
This is because the node deemed balanced. The node balancing logic in
balance_pgdat() evaluates all zones collectively. If one or more zones
(e.g., ZONE_DMA32) have enough free pages to meet their watermarks, the
entire node is deemed balanced. This causes balance_pgdat() to exit early
before incrementing the kswapd_failures, as it considers the overall
memory state acceptable, even though some zones (like ZONE_NORMAL) remain
under significant pressure.
The patch ensures that zone_reclaimable_pages() includes free pages
(NR_FREE_PAGES) in its calculation when no other reclaimable pages are
available (e.g., file-backed or anonymous pages). This change prevents
zones like ZONE_DMA32, which have sufficient free pages, from being
mistakenly deemed unreclaimable. By doing so, the patch ensures proper
node balancing, avoids masking pressure on other zones like ZONE_NORMAL,
and prevents infinite loops in throttle_direct_reclaim() caused by
allow_direct_reclaim(pgdat) repeatedly returning false.
The kernel hangs due to a task stuck in throttle_direct_reclaim(), caused
by a node being incorrectly deemed balanced despite pressure in certain
zones, such as ZONE_NORMAL. This issue arises from
zone_reclaimable_pages
---truncated---
Metrics
Affected Vendors & Products
Advisories
    | Source | ID | Title | 
|---|---|---|
  Debian DLA | 
                DLA-4075-1 | linux security update | 
  Debian DLA | 
                DLA-4076-1 | linux-6.1 security update | 
  EUVD | 
                EUVD-2024-53787 | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm: vmscan: account for free pages to prevent infinite Loop in throttle_direct_reclaim() The task sometimes continues looping in throttle_direct_reclaim() because allow_direct_reclaim(pgdat) keeps returning false. #0 [ffff80002cb6f8d0] __switch_to at ffff8000080095ac #1 [ffff80002cb6f900] __schedule at ffff800008abbd1c #2 [ffff80002cb6f990] schedule at ffff800008abc50c #3 [ffff80002cb6f9b0] throttle_direct_reclaim at ffff800008273550 #4 [ffff80002cb6fa20] try_to_free_pages at ffff800008277b68 #5 [ffff80002cb6fae0] __alloc_pages_nodemask at ffff8000082c4660 #6 [ffff80002cb6fc50] alloc_pages_vma at ffff8000082e4a98 #7 [ffff80002cb6fca0] do_anonymous_page at ffff80000829f5a8 #8 [ffff80002cb6fce0] __handle_mm_fault at ffff8000082a5974 #9 [ffff80002cb6fd90] handle_mm_fault at ffff8000082a5bd4 At this point, the pgdat contains the following two zones: NODE: 4 ZONE: 0 ADDR: ffff00817fffe540 NAME: "DMA32" SIZE: 20480 MIN/LOW/HIGH: 11/28/45 VM_STAT: NR_FREE_PAGES: 359 NR_ZONE_INACTIVE_ANON: 18813 NR_ZONE_ACTIVE_ANON: 0 NR_ZONE_INACTIVE_FILE: 50 NR_ZONE_ACTIVE_FILE: 0 NR_ZONE_UNEVICTABLE: 0 NR_ZONE_WRITE_PENDING: 0 NR_MLOCK: 0 NR_BOUNCE: 0 NR_ZSPAGES: 0 NR_FREE_CMA_PAGES: 0 NODE: 4 ZONE: 1 ADDR: ffff00817fffec00 NAME: "Normal" SIZE: 8454144 PRESENT: 98304 MIN/LOW/HIGH: 68/166/264 VM_STAT: NR_FREE_PAGES: 146 NR_ZONE_INACTIVE_ANON: 94668 NR_ZONE_ACTIVE_ANON: 3 NR_ZONE_INACTIVE_FILE: 735 NR_ZONE_ACTIVE_FILE: 78 NR_ZONE_UNEVICTABLE: 0 NR_ZONE_WRITE_PENDING: 0 NR_MLOCK: 0 NR_BOUNCE: 0 NR_ZSPAGES: 0 NR_FREE_CMA_PAGES: 0 In allow_direct_reclaim(), while processing ZONE_DMA32, the sum of inactive/active file-backed pages calculated in zone_reclaimable_pages() based on the result of zone_page_state_snapshot() is zero. Additionally, since this system lacks swap, the calculation of inactive/ active anonymous pages is skipped. crash> p nr_swap_pages nr_swap_pages = $1937 = { counter = 0 } As a result, ZONE_DMA32 is deemed unreclaimable and skipped, moving on to the processing of the next zone, ZONE_NORMAL, despite ZONE_DMA32 having free pages significantly exceeding the high watermark. The problem is that the pgdat->kswapd_failures hasn't been incremented. crash> px ((struct pglist_data *) 0xffff00817fffe540)->kswapd_failures $1935 = 0x0 This is because the node deemed balanced. The node balancing logic in balance_pgdat() evaluates all zones collectively. If one or more zones (e.g., ZONE_DMA32) have enough free pages to meet their watermarks, the entire node is deemed balanced. This causes balance_pgdat() to exit early before incrementing the kswapd_failures, as it considers the overall memory state acceptable, even though some zones (like ZONE_NORMAL) remain under significant pressure. The patch ensures that zone_reclaimable_pages() includes free pages (NR_FREE_PAGES) in its calculation when no other reclaimable pages are available (e.g., file-backed or anonymous pages). This change prevents zones like ZONE_DMA32, which have sufficient free pages, from being mistakenly deemed unreclaimable. By doing so, the patch ensures proper node balancing, avoids masking pressure on other zones like ZONE_NORMAL, and prevents infinite loops in throttle_direct_reclaim() caused by allow_direct_reclaim(pgdat) repeatedly returning false. The kernel hangs due to a task stuck in throttle_direct_reclaim(), caused by a node being incorrectly deemed balanced despite pressure in certain zones, such as ZONE_NORMAL. This issue arises from zone_reclaimable_pages ---truncated--- | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7379-1 | Linux kernel vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7379-2 | Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7380-1 | Linux kernel (Low Latency) vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7381-1 | Linux kernel (Low Latency) vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7382-1 | Linux kernel (OEM) vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7387-1 | Linux kernel vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7387-2 | Linux kernel (FIPS) vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7387-3 | Linux kernel (Real-time) vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7388-1 | Linux kernel vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7389-1 | Linux kernel (NVIDIA Tegra) vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7390-1 | Linux kernel (Xilinx ZynqMP) vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7391-1 | Linux kernel vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7392-1 | Linux kernel vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7392-2 | Linux kernel vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7392-3 | Linux kernel (AWS) vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7392-4 | Linux kernel (AWS FIPS) vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7393-1 | Linux kernel (FIPS) vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7401-1 | Linux kernel (AWS) vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7407-1 | Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7413-1 | Linux kernel (IoT) vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7421-1 | Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7458-1 | Linux kernel (IBM) vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7459-1 | Linux kernel (Intel IoTG) vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7459-2 | Linux kernel (GCP) vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7463-1 | Linux kernel (IBM) vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7513-1 | Linux kernel vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7513-2 | Linux kernel (Real-time) vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7513-3 | Linux kernel vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7513-4 | Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7513-5 | Linux kernel (Oracle) vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7514-1 | Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7515-1 | Linux kernel (GKE) vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7515-2 | Linux kernel vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7522-1 | Linux kernel (Azure, N-Series) vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7523-1 | Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi Real-time) vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7524-1 | Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7539-1 | Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities | 
  Ubuntu USN | 
                USN-7540-1 | Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities | 
Fixes
    Solution
No solution given by the vendor.
Workaround
No workaround given by the vendor.
References
        History
                    Mon, 03 Nov 2025 21:30:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added | 
|---|---|---|
| References | 
         | 
Fri, 26 Sep 2025 20:15:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added | 
|---|---|---|
| First Time appeared | 
        
        Linux
         Linux linux Kernel  | 
|
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.13:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.13:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.13:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.13:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.13:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:*  | 
|
| Vendors & Products | 
        
        Linux
         Linux linux Kernel  | 
Wed, 14 May 2025 03:00:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added | 
|---|---|---|
| First Time appeared | 
        
        Redhat
         Redhat enterprise Linux  | 
|
| CPEs | cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:9 cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9  | 
|
| Vendors & Products | 
        
        Redhat
         Redhat enterprise Linux  | 
Fri, 14 Mar 2025 03:00:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added | 
|---|---|---|
| Weaknesses | CWE-835 | 
Thu, 16 Jan 2025 01:30:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added | 
|---|---|---|
| References | 
         | |
| Metrics | 
        
        
        threat_severity
         
  | 
    
        
        cvssV3_1
         
 
  | 
Wed, 15 Jan 2025 13:15:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added | 
|---|---|---|
| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm: vmscan: account for free pages to prevent infinite Loop in throttle_direct_reclaim() The task sometimes continues looping in throttle_direct_reclaim() because allow_direct_reclaim(pgdat) keeps returning false. #0 [ffff80002cb6f8d0] __switch_to at ffff8000080095ac #1 [ffff80002cb6f900] __schedule at ffff800008abbd1c #2 [ffff80002cb6f990] schedule at ffff800008abc50c #3 [ffff80002cb6f9b0] throttle_direct_reclaim at ffff800008273550 #4 [ffff80002cb6fa20] try_to_free_pages at ffff800008277b68 #5 [ffff80002cb6fae0] __alloc_pages_nodemask at ffff8000082c4660 #6 [ffff80002cb6fc50] alloc_pages_vma at ffff8000082e4a98 #7 [ffff80002cb6fca0] do_anonymous_page at ffff80000829f5a8 #8 [ffff80002cb6fce0] __handle_mm_fault at ffff8000082a5974 #9 [ffff80002cb6fd90] handle_mm_fault at ffff8000082a5bd4 At this point, the pgdat contains the following two zones: NODE: 4 ZONE: 0 ADDR: ffff00817fffe540 NAME: "DMA32" SIZE: 20480 MIN/LOW/HIGH: 11/28/45 VM_STAT: NR_FREE_PAGES: 359 NR_ZONE_INACTIVE_ANON: 18813 NR_ZONE_ACTIVE_ANON: 0 NR_ZONE_INACTIVE_FILE: 50 NR_ZONE_ACTIVE_FILE: 0 NR_ZONE_UNEVICTABLE: 0 NR_ZONE_WRITE_PENDING: 0 NR_MLOCK: 0 NR_BOUNCE: 0 NR_ZSPAGES: 0 NR_FREE_CMA_PAGES: 0 NODE: 4 ZONE: 1 ADDR: ffff00817fffec00 NAME: "Normal" SIZE: 8454144 PRESENT: 98304 MIN/LOW/HIGH: 68/166/264 VM_STAT: NR_FREE_PAGES: 146 NR_ZONE_INACTIVE_ANON: 94668 NR_ZONE_ACTIVE_ANON: 3 NR_ZONE_INACTIVE_FILE: 735 NR_ZONE_ACTIVE_FILE: 78 NR_ZONE_UNEVICTABLE: 0 NR_ZONE_WRITE_PENDING: 0 NR_MLOCK: 0 NR_BOUNCE: 0 NR_ZSPAGES: 0 NR_FREE_CMA_PAGES: 0 In allow_direct_reclaim(), while processing ZONE_DMA32, the sum of inactive/active file-backed pages calculated in zone_reclaimable_pages() based on the result of zone_page_state_snapshot() is zero. Additionally, since this system lacks swap, the calculation of inactive/ active anonymous pages is skipped. crash> p nr_swap_pages nr_swap_pages = $1937 = { counter = 0 } As a result, ZONE_DMA32 is deemed unreclaimable and skipped, moving on to the processing of the next zone, ZONE_NORMAL, despite ZONE_DMA32 having free pages significantly exceeding the high watermark. The problem is that the pgdat->kswapd_failures hasn't been incremented. crash> px ((struct pglist_data *) 0xffff00817fffe540)->kswapd_failures $1935 = 0x0 This is because the node deemed balanced. The node balancing logic in balance_pgdat() evaluates all zones collectively. If one or more zones (e.g., ZONE_DMA32) have enough free pages to meet their watermarks, the entire node is deemed balanced. This causes balance_pgdat() to exit early before incrementing the kswapd_failures, as it considers the overall memory state acceptable, even though some zones (like ZONE_NORMAL) remain under significant pressure. The patch ensures that zone_reclaimable_pages() includes free pages (NR_FREE_PAGES) in its calculation when no other reclaimable pages are available (e.g., file-backed or anonymous pages). This change prevents zones like ZONE_DMA32, which have sufficient free pages, from being mistakenly deemed unreclaimable. By doing so, the patch ensures proper node balancing, avoids masking pressure on other zones like ZONE_NORMAL, and prevents infinite loops in throttle_direct_reclaim() caused by allow_direct_reclaim(pgdat) repeatedly returning false. The kernel hangs due to a task stuck in throttle_direct_reclaim(), caused by a node being incorrectly deemed balanced despite pressure in certain zones, such as ZONE_NORMAL. This issue arises from zone_reclaimable_pages ---truncated--- | |
| Title | mm: vmscan: account for free pages to prevent infinite Loop in throttle_direct_reclaim() | |
| References | 
         | 
        
  | 
Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Linux
Published:
Updated: 2025-11-03T20:54:54.121Z
Reserved: 2025-01-11T14:45:42.024Z
Link: CVE-2024-57884
No data.
Status : Modified
Published: 2025-01-15T13:15:12.757
Modified: 2025-11-03T21:18:37.380
Link: CVE-2024-57884
                        OpenCVE Enrichment
                    No data.
 Debian DLA
 EUVD
 Ubuntu USN