CVE-2026-63950
mm/rmap: initialize nr_pages to 1 at loop start in try_to_unmap_one
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm/rmap: initialize nr_pages to 1 at loop start in try_to_unmap_one Initialize nr_pages to 1 at the start of each loop iteration, like folio_referenced_one() does. Without this, nr_pages computed by a previous folio_unmap_pte_batch() call can be reused on a later iteration that does not run folio_unmap_pte_batch() again. mmap a 64K large folio with MAP_ANONYMOUS | MAP_DROPPABLE, then call madvise(MADV_FREE), then make the last page device-exclusive via HMM_DMIRROR_EXCLUSIVE. Trigger node reclaim through sysfs. Now, in try_to_unmap_one(), we will first clear the first 15 out of 16 entries mapping the lazyfree folio. This will set nr_pages to 15. In the next pvmw walk, this nr_pages gets reused on a device-exclusive pte, thus potentially corrupting folio refcount/mapcount. At the moment, I have a userspace program which can make the kernel spit out a trace, but the blow up is in folio_referenced_one(), because there are existing bugs in the interaction between device-private and rmap (which too I am investigating). I did a one liner kernel change to avoid going into folio_referenced_one(), and the kernel blows up at folio_remove_rmap_ptes in try_to_unmap_one which is what I wanted. Note that the bug is there not since file folio batching but lazyfree folio batching, since device-exclusive only works for anonymous folios. Userspace visible effect is simply kernel crashing somewhere due to refcount/mapcount corruption.
INFO
Published Date :
July 19, 2026, 4:17 p.m.
Last Modified :
July 27, 2026, 5:44 p.m.
Remotely Exploit :
No
Source :
416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
CVSS Scores
| Score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability Score | Impact Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | HIGH | 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 |
Solution
- Update the Linux kernel to the latest version.
- Apply relevant security patches.
- Rebuild and deploy the kernel.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
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information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2026-63950.
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
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specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
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associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-63950
weaknesses.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
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The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2026-63950 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2026-63950 vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
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CVE Modified by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Jul. 20, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CVSS V3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H -
New CVE Received by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Jul. 19, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Affected [{'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '354dffd29575cdf13154e8fb787322354aa9efc4', 'lessThan': '0fcc34d0d8fefca4fea349e45c10e3a3d90350eb', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '354dffd29575cdf13154e8fb787322354aa9efc4', 'lessThan': 'f611db9b771b2b6775357555d2517af044fca4f0', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '354dffd29575cdf13154e8fb787322354aa9efc4', 'lessThan': '3f8968e9cbf95d5d87d32218906cab0b9b9eddbe', 'versionType': 'git'}], 'programFiles': ['mm/rmap.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}, {'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '6.15'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '0', 'lessThan': '6.15', 'versionType': 'semver'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.18.35', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.18.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.0.12', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '7.0.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.1', 'versionType': 'original_commit_for_fix', 'lessThanOrEqual': '*'}], 'programFiles': ['mm/rmap.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'affected'}] Added Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm/rmap: initialize nr_pages to 1 at loop start in try_to_unmap_one Initialize nr_pages to 1 at the start of each loop iteration, like folio_referenced_one() does. Without this, nr_pages computed by a previous folio_unmap_pte_batch() call can be reused on a later iteration that does not run folio_unmap_pte_batch() again. mmap a 64K large folio with MAP_ANONYMOUS | MAP_DROPPABLE, then call madvise(MADV_FREE), then make the last page device-exclusive via HMM_DMIRROR_EXCLUSIVE. Trigger node reclaim through sysfs. Now, in try_to_unmap_one(), we will first clear the first 15 out of 16 entries mapping the lazyfree folio. This will set nr_pages to 15. In the next pvmw walk, this nr_pages gets reused on a device-exclusive pte, thus potentially corrupting folio refcount/mapcount. At the moment, I have a userspace program which can make the kernel spit out a trace, but the blow up is in folio_referenced_one(), because there are existing bugs in the interaction between device-private and rmap (which too I am investigating). I did a one liner kernel change to avoid going into folio_referenced_one(), and the kernel blows up at folio_remove_rmap_ptes in try_to_unmap_one which is what I wanted. Note that the bug is there not since file folio batching but lazyfree folio batching, since device-exclusive only works for anonymous folios. Userspace visible effect is simply kernel crashing somewhere due to refcount/mapcount corruption. Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0fcc34d0d8fefca4fea349e45c10e3a3d90350eb Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3f8968e9cbf95d5d87d32218906cab0b9b9eddbe Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f611db9b771b2b6775357555d2517af044fca4f0