CVE-2026-90201
net: page_pool: fix UAF in __page_pool_release_netmem_dma on xa_cmpxchg race
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: page_pool: fix UAF in __page_pool_release_netmem_dma on xa_cmpxchg race This bug was discovered while testing the hns3 driver under channel reconfiguration (`ethtool -L` / `ethtool -G`) with iperf3 traffic on arm64. The race is intermittently triggered when page_pool_destroy() runs page_pool_scrub() concurrently with page return via page_pool_put_netmem() on a different CPU. A WARN in page_pool_clear_pp_info() surfaced the dangling DMA index bits left by the cmpxchg loser, which led to the investigation. page_pool_scrub() iterates pool->dma_mapped via xa_for_each() with no page ref held. __page_pool_release_netmem_dma() currently reads and writes netmem fields (dma_addr, DMA index bits in pp_magic) after xa_cmpxchg() returns. The unref path calls put_page() unconditionally regardless of the cmpxchg outcome; when it loses the cmpxchg, it still frees the page before the scrub winner finishes these netmem accesses, so scrub touches a freed page -- a Use-After-Free. Fix this by splitting the DMA release into two functions: 1. __page_pool_unmap_netmem_dma() caches dma_addr before xa_cmpxchg(), does the cmpxchg to remove the DMA mapping, and calls dma_unmap on the cached address. It never touches netmem fields after the cmpxchg, making it safe for the scrub path which holds no page ref. 2. __page_pool_release_netmem_dma() wraps the above and additionally clears dma_addr and DMA index bits in netmem fields. This is safe only when the caller holds a page ref, so it is used by the return path (page_pool_return_netmem). The scrub path calls __page_pool_unmap_netmem_dma() directly; the return path calls __page_pool_release_netmem_dma().
INFO
Published Date :
Sept. 17, 2026, 5:17 p.m.
Last Modified :
Sept. 17, 2026, 5:17 p.m.
Remotely Exploit :
No
Source :
416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Solution
- Update the Linux kernel to a patched version.
- Apply the specific fix for page_pool_release_netmem_dma.
- Ensure page refs are held during DMA release.
- Split DMA release into safe functions.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
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CVE-2026-90201.
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-90201 is
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-2026-90201
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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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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New CVE Received by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Sep. 17, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: page_pool: fix UAF in __page_pool_release_netmem_dma on xa_cmpxchg race This bug was discovered while testing the hns3 driver under channel reconfiguration (`ethtool -L` / `ethtool -G`) with iperf3 traffic on arm64. The race is intermittently triggered when page_pool_destroy() runs page_pool_scrub() concurrently with page return via page_pool_put_netmem() on a different CPU. A WARN in page_pool_clear_pp_info() surfaced the dangling DMA index bits left by the cmpxchg loser, which led to the investigation. page_pool_scrub() iterates pool->dma_mapped via xa_for_each() with no page ref held. __page_pool_release_netmem_dma() currently reads and writes netmem fields (dma_addr, DMA index bits in pp_magic) after xa_cmpxchg() returns. The unref path calls put_page() unconditionally regardless of the cmpxchg outcome; when it loses the cmpxchg, it still frees the page before the scrub winner finishes these netmem accesses, so scrub touches a freed page -- a Use-After-Free. Fix this by splitting the DMA release into two functions: 1. __page_pool_unmap_netmem_dma() caches dma_addr before xa_cmpxchg(), does the cmpxchg to remove the DMA mapping, and calls dma_unmap on the cached address. It never touches netmem fields after the cmpxchg, making it safe for the scrub path which holds no page ref. 2. __page_pool_release_netmem_dma() wraps the above and additionally clears dma_addr and DMA index bits in netmem fields. This is safe only when the caller holds a page ref, so it is used by the return path (page_pool_return_netmem). The scrub path calls __page_pool_unmap_netmem_dma() directly; the return path calls __page_pool_release_netmem_dma(). Added Affected New affected value received. <a href="https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/blob/main/cves/2026/90xxx/CVE-2026-90201.json">CVE-2026-90201</a> Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/24ef02f934eeb48830cff6b739abc3c62b1d107b Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/424a9fc4876cc7f28e9cb0aa8d92e920d726e350 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9b65b0253ad5a66f73efee9a79a21a1e2b57cf59 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bbfef303f980c1c078b8fa142e10a0e2fbcdd247