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Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-74632

🗓️ 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00Reported by TenableType 
nessus
 nessus
🔗 www.tenable.com👁 5 Views

Race in Linux kernel mm/huge_memory huge_zero_pfn causes misidentification of zero folio as THP.

Related
Refs
Code
ReporterTitlePublishedViews
Family
cve
CVE
CVE-2026-74632
22 Aug 202615:32
cve
cvelist
Cvelist
CVE-2026-74632 mm/huge_memory: fix huge_zero_pfn race
22 Aug 202615:32
cvelist
debiancve
Debian CVE
CVE-2026-74632
22 Aug 202615:32
debiancve
euvd
EUVD
EUVD-2026-64569
22 Aug 202615:32
euvd
nvd
NVD
CVE-2026-74632
22 Aug 202616:16
nvd
osv
OSV
DEBIAN-CVE-2026-74632
22 Aug 202616:16
osv
ptsecurity
Positive Technologies
PT-2026-79637
22 Aug 202600:00
ptsecurity
#%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80900
##
# (C) Tenable, Inc.
##

include('compat.inc');

if (description)
{
  script_id(338883);
  script_version("1.1");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2026/08/22");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2026-74632");

  script_name(english:"Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-74632");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed with a vulnerability that the vendor indicates will not be
patched.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed that are impacted by a vulnerability without a vendor supplied
patch available.

  - mm/huge_memory: fix huge_zero_pfn race Patch series mm/huge_memory: fix huge_zero_pfn race, v2. There is
    a subtle race in the reference-counted huge_zero_folio implementation. The fast path atomic logic fails to
    account for the fact that the shrinker (which drops the final huge_zero_refcount pin) can overwrite
    huge_zero_pfn with the ~0UL sentinel value in shrink_huge_zero_folio_scan() after a racing
    get_huge_zero_folio() installed a valid value there. This results in huge_zero_folio being correctly set
    but huge_zero_pfn being set incorrectly and thus is_huge_zero_pfn() and consequently is_huge_zero_pmd()
    will misidentify the huge zero folio as being an ordinary THP folio. This can result in the huge zero
    folio being split and otherwise treated incorrectly. The solution to this is very subtle as there is an
    atomic fast path, and thus ordering in weakly ordered architectures has to be treated very carefully. The
    first commit fixes the issue by introducing a spinlock around huge_zero_[pfn, folio, refcount] write, with
    careful consideration paid to load/store ordering in the fast path. It is placed first and kept as small
    as possible so that it can be backported on its own. The second commit is a pure cleanup which reworks the
    CONFIG_PERSISTENT_HUGE_ZERO_FOLIO logic to better separate the persistent logic from the dynamically
    allocated one. This patch (of 2): If !CONFIG_PERSISTENT_HUGE_ZERO_FOLIO, the huge_zero_folio is refcounted
    by huge_zero_refcount and returned by mm_get_huge_zero_folio(). When the caller is done with the huge zero
    page, its reference count is decremented. Only a shrinker can set the reference count to zero. A race can
    unfortunately occur between a shrinker decrementing the reference count to zero and a concurrent page
    fault. This is because shrink_huge_zero_folio_scan() might, if very unlucky, be preempted between setting
    huge_zero_refcount to zero and writing an invalid value. During this time get_huge_zero_folio() could
    write to huge_zero_pfn before shrink_huge_zero_folio_scan() resumes. In this event the huge zero folio
    will be persistently misidentified causing the THP code path to be entered inappropriately for the huge
    zero folio: CPU 0 CPU 1 =======================================|=================================
    shrink_huge_zero_folio_scan() | atomic_cmpxchg() sets refcount to 0 | xchg() sets huge_zero_folio to NULL
    | get_huge_zero_folio() | | atomic_inc_not_zero() -> zero preempted for a long time | Allocate new huge
    zero folio | | Write valid huge_zero_folio v | Write valid huge_zero_pfn Overwrite huge_zero_pfn with ~0UL
    <--- Invalid overwrite! This results in is_huge_zero_pfn() and is_huge_zero_pmd() incorrectly returning
    false for a huge zero page which could result in issues like the huge zero folio being incorrectly split.
    Note that the issue is with huge_zero_pfn not huge_zero_folio, as get_huge_zero_folio() uses cmpxchg()
    gated on huge_zero_folio being NULL with a retry loop and shrink_huge_zero_folio_scan() uses xchg() to set
    huge_zero_folio. Fix the issue by introducing a spinlock, huge_zero_lock, to prevent concurrent write of
    huge_zero_folio, huge_zero_pfn and huge_zero_refcount. There needs to be significant care taken here to
    ensure correctness: The fast path in get_huge_zero_folio() uses atomic_inc_not_zero(), which is outside of
    the critical section, and means huge zero allocation is gated on zero huge_zero_refcount. The fast path
    doesn't use huge_zero_lock, so the critical section is irrelevant to it. So invariants are required -
    huge_zero_refcount MUST: * Only be set in the huge_zero_lock critical section to ensure serialisation of
    huge_zero_pfn, huge_zero_folio and ---truncated--- (CVE-2026-74632)

Note that Nessus relies on the presence of the package as reported by the vendor.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2026-74632");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"There is no known solution at this time.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"agent", value:"unix");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:U/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:U/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2026-74632");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"false");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vendor_unpatched", value:"true");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2026/08/22");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2026/08/22");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:11.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:12.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:13.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:14.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:debian:debian_linux:linux");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"generated_plugin", value:"current");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"Misc.");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2026 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("ssh_get_info2.nasl", "set_linux_os_id.nasl");
  script_require_keys("Host/cpu", "Host/local_checks_enabled", "global_settings/vendor_unpatched", "Host/OS/identifier");
  script_require_ports("Host/OS/Debian Linux-11", "Host/OS/Debian Linux-12", "Host/OS/Debian Linux-13", "Host/OS/Debian Linux-14");

  exit(0);
}

if (!get_kb_item("global_settings/vendor_unpatched")) exit(0, "Unpatched Vulnerabilities Detection not active.");
if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
if (empty_or_null(get_one_kb_item("Host/Debian/dpkg-l"))) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);

include('linux_unpatched.inc');

var distro_constraints_array = {
  "Debian Linux-12": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "12",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "btrfs-modules-6.1.0-50-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "cdrom-core-modules-6.1.0-50-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "ext4-modules-6.1.0-50-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "fat-modules-6.1.0-50-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "isofs-modules-6.1.0-50-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "jfs-modules-6.1.0-50-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "kernel-image-6.1.0-50-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "linux-doc"},
          {"reference": "linux-doc-6.1"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-6.1.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-source"},
          {"reference": "linux-source-6.1"},
          {"reference": "linux-support-6.1.0"},
          {"reference": "loop-modules-6.1.0-50-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "nic-modules-6.1.0-50-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "nic-shared-modules-6.1.0-50-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "nic-wireless-modules-6.1.0-50-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "pata-modules-6.1.0-50-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "ppp-modules-6.1.0-50-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "scsi-core-modules-6.1.0-50-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "scsi-modules-6.1.0-50-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "scsi-nic-modules-6.1.0-50-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "serial-modules-6.1.0-50-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "usb-serial-modules-6.1.0-50-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "xfs-modules-6.1.0-50-alpha-generic-di"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Debian Linux-11": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "11",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "bpftool"},
          {"reference": "btrfs-modules-5.10.0-32-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "cdrom-core-modules-5.10.0-32-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "hyperv-daemons"},
          {"reference": "kernel-image-5.10.0-32-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "libcpupower-dev"},
          {"reference": "libcpupower1"},
          {"reference": "linux-bootwrapper-5.10.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-config-5.10"},
          {"reference": "linux-cpupower"},
          {"reference": "linux-doc"},
          {"reference": "linux-doc-5.10"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-5.10.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-kbuild-5.10"},
          {"reference": "linux-libc-dev"},
          {"reference": "linux-perf"},
          {"reference": "linux-perf-5.10"},
          {"reference": "linux-source"},
          {"reference": "linux-source-5.10"},
          {"reference": "linux-support-5.10.0"},
          {"reference": "loop-modules-5.10.0-32-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "nic-modules-5.10.0-32-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "nic-shared-modules-5.10.0-32-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "nic-wireless-modules-5.10.0-32-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "pata-modules-5.10.0-32-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "ppp-modules-5.10.0-32-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "scsi-core-modules-5.10.0-32-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "scsi-modules-5.10.0-32-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "scsi-nic-modules-5.10.0-32-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "serial-modules-5.10.0-32-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "usb-serial-modules-5.10.0-32-alpha-generic-di"},
          {"reference": "usbip"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Debian Linux-14": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "14",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "bpftool"},
          {"reference": "hyperv-daemons"},
          {"reference": "intel-sdsi"},
          {"reference": "libcpupower-dev"},
          {"reference": "libcpupower1"},
          {"reference": "linux-base-7.1.8+deb14.1-alpha-generic"},
          {"reference": "linux-base-7.1.8+deb14.1-alpha-smp"},
          {"reference": "linux-base-7.1.8+deb14.1-amd64"},
          {"reference": "linux-base-7.1.8+deb14.1-arm64"},
          {"reference": "linux-base-7.1.8+deb14.1-arm64-16k"},
          {"reference": "linux-base-7.1.8+deb14.1-armmp"},
          {"reference": "linux-base-7.1.8+deb14.1-armmp-lpae"},
          {"reference": "linux-base-7.1.8+deb14.1-cloud-amd64"},
          {"reference": "linux-base-7.1.8+deb14.1-cloud-arm64"},
          {"reference": "linux-base-7.1.8+deb14.1-loong64"},
          {"reference": "linux-base-7.1.8+deb14.1-m68k"},
          {"reference": "linux-base-7.1.8+deb14.1-parisc"},
          {"reference": "linux-base-7.1.8+deb14.1-parisc64"},
          {"reference": "linux-base-7.1.8+deb14.1-powerpc"},
          {"reference": "linux-base-7.1.8+deb14.1-powerpc-smp"},
          {"reference": "linux-base-7.1.8+deb14.1-powerpc64"},
          {"reference": "linux-base-7.1.8+deb14.1-powerpc64-64k"},
          {"reference": "linux-base-7.1.8+deb14.1-powerpc64le"},
          {"reference": "linux-base-7.1.8+deb14.1-powerpc64le-64k"},
          {"reference": "linux-base-7.1.8+deb14.1-riscv64"},
          {"reference": "linux-base-7.1.8+deb14.1-rt-amd64"},
          {"reference": "linux-base-7.1.8+deb14.1-rt-arm64"},
          {"reference": "linux-base-7.1.8+deb14.1-s390x"},
          {"reference": "linux-base-7.1.8+deb14.1-sh7751r"},
          {"reference": "linux-base-7.1.8+deb14.1-sparc64"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Debian Linux-13": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "13",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "bpftool"},
          {"reference": "hyperv-daemons"},
          {"reference": "intel-sdsi"},
          {"reference": "libcpupower-dev"},
          {"reference": "libcpupower1"},
          {"reference": "linux-bpf-dev"},
          {"reference": "linux-config-6.12"},
          {"reference": "linux-cpupower"},
          {"reference": "linux-doc"},
          {"reference": "linux-doc-6.12"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-4kc-malta"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-5kc-malta"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-6.12.94+deb13-4kc-malta"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-6.12.94+deb13-5kc-malta"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-6.12.94+deb13-alpha-generic"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-6.12.94+deb13-alpha-smp"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-6.12.94+deb13-amd64"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-6.12.94+deb13-arm64"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-6.12.94+deb13-arm64-16k"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-6.12.94+deb13-armmp"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-6.12.94+deb13-armmp-lpae"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-6.12.94+deb13-cloud-amd64"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-6.12.94+deb13-cloud-arm64"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-6.12.94+deb13-common"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-6.12.94+deb13-common-rt"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-6.12.94+deb13-loong64"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-6.12.94+deb13-loongson-3"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-6.12.94+deb13-m68k"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-6.12.94+deb13-mips32r2eb"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-6.12.94+deb13-mips32r2el"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-6.12.94+deb13-mips64r2eb"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-6.12.94+deb13-mips64r2el"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
};

var distro_constraints_values = linux_unpatched::get_distro_constraints(distro_constraints_arr:distro_constraints_array);
if (empty_or_null(distro_constraints_values)) audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');

var third_party_support = get_kb_item('Host/OS/extended-third-party');
if (!empty_or_null(third_party_support)) {
    var third_party_vendors = distro_constraints_values['third_party'];
    if (!empty_or_null(third_party_vendors)) {
        var vendor;
        foreach vendor (third_party_vendors) {
            if (vendor == third_party_support) exit(0, 'A third party management patch is available for this vulnerability from ' + vendor + '.\n');
        }
    }
}

var report = linux_unpatched::check_unpatched_constraints(distro_constraints_values:distro_constraints_values);

if (!empty_or_null(report))
{
  security_report_v4(
      port       : 0,
      severity   : SECURITY_WARNING,
      extra      : report
  );
  exit(0);
}
else
{
  audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
}

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22 Aug 2026 00:00Current
5.8Medium risk
Vulners AI Score5.8
EPSS0.00209
5