Description
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/20260703-alloc-trylock-v5-0-c87b714e19d3@google.com/

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.
Published: 2026-09-16
Score: 7.8 High
EPSS: n/a
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

No analysis available yet.

Remediation

No remediation available yet.

Tracking

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History

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 14:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}


Wed, 16 Sep 2026 10:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description 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/20260703-alloc-trylock-v5-0-c87b714e19d3@google.com/ 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.
Title mm/page_alloc: don't spin_trylock() in NMI on UP
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

Subscriptions

Linux Linux Kernel
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-09-16T14:42:01.386Z

Reserved: 2026-09-11T19:38:34.783Z

Link: CVE-2026-90046

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-09-16T11:17:17.867

Modified: 2026-09-16T15:18:27.317

Link: CVE-2026-90046

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-09-17T01:15:03Z

Weaknesses

No weakness.