CVE-2026-31466

Medium

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm/huge_memory: fix folio isn't locked in softleaf_to_folio() On arm64 server, we found folio that get from migration entry isn't locked in softleaf_to_folio(). This issue triggers when mTHP splitting and zap_nonpresent_ptes() races, and the root cause is lack of memory barrier in softleaf_to_folio(). The race is as follows: CPU0 CPU1 deferred_split_scan() zap_nonpresent_ptes() lock folio split_folio() unmap_folio() change ptes to migration entries __split_folio_to_order() softleaf_to_folio() set flags(including PG_locked) for tail pages folio = pfn_folio(softleaf_to_pfn(entry)) smp_wmb() VM_WARN_ON_ONCE(!folio_test_locked(folio)) prep_compound_page() for tail pages In __split_folio_to_order(), smp_wmb() guarantees page flags of tail pages are visible before the tail page becomes non-compound. smp_wmb() should be paired with smp_rmb() in softleaf_to_folio(), which is missed. As a result, if zap_nonpresent_ptes() accesses migration entry that stores tail pfn, softleaf_to_folio() may see the updated compound_head of tail page before page->flags. This issue will trigger VM_WARN_ON_ONCE() in pfn_swap_entry_folio() because of the race between folio split and zap_nonpresent_ptes() leading to a folio incorrectly undergoing modification without a folio lock being held. This is a BUG_ON() before commit 93976a20345b ("mm: eliminate further swapops predicates"), which in merged in v6.19-rc1. To fix it, add missing smp_rmb() if the softleaf entry is migration entry in softleaf_to_folio() and softleaf_to_page(). [[email protected]: update function name and comments]

Package Linux Kernel
Published 2026-04-22
Last modified 2026-05-07
CVSS version 3.1
Patch available
Yes

CVSS 3.1 score

4.7

out of 10
Medium
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
None
Availability
High
Vector string
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Weakness type

CWE-362

CVE-2026-31466 is a Race Condition vulnerability

What is Race Condition?

The product contains a code sequence that can run concurrently with other code, creating unexpected states. Learn more on MITRE CWE

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 4.5 and later are affected. Fixed in 5.10.253, 5.15.203, 6.1.168, 6.6.134, 6.12.81, 6.18.21, 6.19.11, 7.0 and their respective stable series.

Affected from
≥ 4.5
Fixed in
✓ 5.10.253 5.10.x ✓ 5.15.203 5.15.x ✓ 6.1.168 6.1.x ✓ 6.6.134 6.6.x ✓ 6.12.81 6.12.x ✓ 6.18.21 6.18.x ✓ 6.19.11 6.19.x ✓ 7.0

References

The following references provide additional information about CVE-2026-31466 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.

Frequently asked questions

  • What is CVE-2026-31466?

    CVE-2026-31466 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 4.7 out of 10 , classified as a Race Condition flaw (CWE-362) . It affects Linux kernel versions from 4.5 onward and has been patched in 5.10.253, 5.15.203, 6.1.168 and others. CVE-2026-31466 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

  • What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-31466?

    CVE-2026-31466 has a CVSS score of 4.7 out of 10, rated Medium severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H .

  • Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-31466?

    Yes — CVE-2026-31466 has been patched. Fixed versions include 5.10.253, 5.15.203, 6.1.168 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 4.5 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

  • Is CVE-2026-31466 actively exploited?

    No — CVE-2026-31466 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.

  • What is Race Condition (CWE-362)?

    The product contains a code sequence that can run concurrently with other code, creating unexpected states. View CWE-362 on MITRE CWE →