CVE-2026-74672: Linux kernel · mm/vmalloc: acquire init_mm lock on huge vmap to avoid ptdump UAF
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · fixed in e85ed734611616d4a9d8a240bde563dd6ac7452f : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 30 Oct 2026, 13:18 UTC
Rated High by Threat Radar's AI analysis · CVSS not yet scored by NVD
Thin evidence
One scorer or none- Patch
- Available – fixed in e85ed734611616d4a9d8a240bde563dd6ac7452f, c5bf8cd148cfea948cfa3db71da427294b20db0f, 26444eb71465c9934d9d418ef69c43f61185329b +9
Exploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 22 Aug 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 30 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
A fix is available and has been applied in Linux kernel versions 4.10, 4.15, 4.16, and corresponding commits. Users and administrators should upgrade to these fixed versions or later to mitigate this vulnerability. No additional mitigations are required beyond applying the official patches.
Description
CVE-2026-74672 is a use-after-free (UAF) vulnerability in the Linux kernel's memory management subsystem related to page table handling during huge vmap promotions and ptdump operations. The issue arises from a race condition where page tables may be freed while being walked by ptdump, leading to potential UAF. The vulnerability affects multiple Linux kernel versions from 4.4.125 up to and including 4.16. The fix involves acquiring appropriate mmap locks to prevent concurrent freeing and walking of page tables, with special handling for arm64 architecture to avoid deadlocks.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/51eaba47b3dc258d1182fc3a88da544ed6b6bb2d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e85ed734611616d4a9d8a240bde563dd6ac7452f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/39c6772b56a6bbdd62794833f74232971d94d7c9 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8d7f560f4b0482d469de962fbe4b59c37561052e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7ac8a333dd41ba5e1b4e8c6edbc48b15446c5468 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c5bf8cd148cfea948cfa3db71da427294b20db0f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3cc26c8907db0f5d1ff8043b5851ee572e9b3c98 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/26444eb71465c9934d9d418ef69c43f61185329b (opens in a new tab)