In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fs/proc/task_mmu: do not warn on seeing non-migration pmd entry Patch series… (CVE-2026-72173)
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel related to the handling of non-migration PMD entries in the task_mmu proc filesystem interface has been resolved. The issue involved a stale warning triggered by the kernel when encountering non-migration PMD entries, which became invalid after support for device-private entries at the PMD level was added. The patch removes this outdated assertion to prevent incorrect warnings.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The vulnerability addressed in CVE-2026-72173 concerns a stale warning in the Linux kernel's fs/proc/task_mmu code. Specifically, the function pagemap_pmd_range_thp() issued warnings when encountering non-present PMD entries that were not migration entries. This behavior was correct when only migration softleaf entries were supported at the PMD level. However, with the introduction of device-private entries at the PMD level, the warning became obsolete and could cause false alerts. The patch removes this migration-only assertion, correcting the kernel's behavior and preventing unnecessary warnings.
Potential Impact
The impact is limited to the presence of stale warnings in the kernel logs when non-migration PMD entries are encountered. There is no indication of security compromise, privilege escalation, or denial of service. The vulnerability does not appear to affect kernel functionality or security posture beyond generating misleading warnings.
Mitigation Recommendations
An official fix has been applied to the Linux kernel to remove the stale migration-only assertion causing the warning. Users should update to the patched kernel version containing this fix. No additional mitigation is required beyond applying the official patch.
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fs/proc/task_mmu: do not warn on seeing non-migration pmd entry Patch series… (CVE-2026-72173)
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel related to the handling of non-migration PMD entries in the task_mmu proc filesystem interface has been resolved. The issue involved a stale warning triggered by the kernel when encountering non-migration PMD entries, which became invalid after support for device-private entries at the PMD level was added. The patch removes this outdated assertion to prevent incorrect warnings.
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
The vulnerability addressed in CVE-2026-72173 concerns a stale warning in the Linux kernel's fs/proc/task_mmu code. Specifically, the function pagemap_pmd_range_thp() issued warnings when encountering non-present PMD entries that were not migration entries. This behavior was correct when only migration softleaf entries were supported at the PMD level. However, with the introduction of device-private entries at the PMD level, the warning became obsolete and could cause false alerts. The patch removes this migration-only assertion, correcting the kernel's behavior and preventing unnecessary warnings.
Potential Impact
The impact is limited to the presence of stale warnings in the kernel logs when non-migration PMD entries are encountered. There is no indication of security compromise, privilege escalation, or denial of service. The vulnerability does not appear to affect kernel functionality or security posture beyond generating misleading warnings.
Mitigation Recommendations
An official fix has been applied to the Linux kernel to remove the stale migration-only assertion causing the warning. Users should update to the patched kernel version containing this fix. No additional mitigation is required beyond applying the official patch.
Technical Details
- Gcve Source
- db.gcve.eu
- Osv Id
- GHSA-hw29-pcpv-9423
- Osv Schema Version
- 1.4.0
- Aliases
- ["CVE-2026-72173"]
- Ecosystems
- []
- Database Specific Severity
- null
- Cvss Version
- null
Threat ID: 6a808b75bf8831d5394ff4ac
Added to database: 08/15/2026, 15:53:25 UTC
Last enriched: 08/15/2026, 16:53:11 UTC
Last updated: 08/15/2026, 21:41:06 UTC
Views: 3
Community Reviews
0 reviewsCrowdsource mitigation strategies, share intel context, and vote on the most helpful responses. Sign in to add your voice and help keep defenders ahead.
Want to contribute mitigation steps or threat intel context? Sign in or create an account to join the community discussion.
Actions
Updates to AI analysis require Pro Console access. Upgrade inside Console → Billing.
Need more coverage?
Upgrade to Pro Console for AI refresh and higher limits.
For incident response and remediation, OffSeq services can help resolve threats faster.
Latest Threats
Check if your credentials are on the dark web
Instant breach scanning across billions of leaked records. Free tier available.