Evidence used
- No CISA KEV confirmation is currently recorded.
BlackTreeCVE IntelligenceFull vulnerability report · 2026
CVE-2026-98939High confidence
x86/mm: Drop unnecessary PMD page copy when freeing
Linux · Linux
…UnscoredAssess manually
Needs assessment
Fix not verifiedNo CVSS base score is available from the CNA, CISA ADP or NIST. Absence of a score is not evidence of low risk; review the vendor advisory, affected exposure and exploit evidence.
R
Open reassessment dashboard →Operational reassessment
Published severity in operational context
Published severityUnscored→Operational priority:Needs assessment, manual assessment needed.unscored
Compensating controls
- Restrict local access and enforce least privilege on affected hosts.
- Monitor vendor guidance and exploitation sources for a material change.
Verification
- Confirm that the asset runs Linux Linux and falls inside the recorded affected range.
- Recheck the vendor advisory before scheduling a change because no verified fixed version is currently retained.
- Validate exposure, authentication requirements and compensating controls in the actual environment.
- Reopen this reassessment when CVSS, KEV, EPSS, exploit evidence or remediation changes.
Distribution package intelligence
4 package statesRelease-specific package status
Debian findings are scoped to the named distribution, release and source package. An absent finding does not mean a package is unaffected.
Repository candidate not checked
A published vendor fix does not prove that a matching update is enabled and installable on a particular asset. Confirm the local package candidate before scheduling remediation.
| Distribution release | Source package | Vendor state | Fixed version | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debian trixietrixie · source | linux | Not affectedDebian marks this release not affected (fixed-version marker 0). | Not published in this feed | Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 23 Oct 2026 |
| Debian bookwormbookworm · source | linux | Not affectedDebian marks this release not affected (fixed-version marker 0). | Not published in this feed | Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 23 Oct 2026 |
| Debian forkyforky · source | linux | Vendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release. | 7.2.10-1 | Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 23 Oct 2026 |
| Debian sidsid · source | linux | Vendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release. | 7.2.10-1 | Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 23 Oct 2026 |
No CVSS base score is available from the CNA, CISA ADP or NIST. Absence of a score is not evidence of low risk; review the vendor advisory, affected exposure and exploit evidence.
Fix not verified01
What, why and how
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: x86/mm: Drop unnecessary PMD page copy when freeing On a box with a discrete GPU, lockdep reports a possible deadlock as soon as kswapd shrinks the TTM page pool. The immediate cause is an x86 commit that added an mmap_read_lock() to kernel page protection munging code. The huge vmap code holds the same lock over a GFP_KERNEL allocation, which is a no-no now that reclaim can take it. That allocation is in a page table *free* path and ends up being for dubious purposes[1]. Basically, it tries to avoid hardware setting Accessed=1 in page table entries that are unreachable by the hardware, a non-issue. Remove the PMD copy. Detach the original PMD page at the PUD, flush the mid-level caches, and free the PTE tables straight from the detached PMD page. With no allocation left, the locking issue is gone. Lockdep splat/analysis: WARNING: possible circular locking dependency detected 7.3.0-rc3-f6e7b42bf05b+ #183 Tainted: G U ------------------------------------------------------ kswapd0/269 is trying to acquire lock: ((init_mm).mmap_lock){++++}-{4:4}, at: change_page_attr_set_clr+0x29a/0x4a0 but task is already holding lock: (pool_shrink_rwsem){.+.+}-{4:4}, at: ttm_pool_shrink+0xb2/0x330 [ttm] Chain exists of: (init_mm).mmap_lock --> fs_reclaim --> pool_shrink_rwsem The cycle is built from three edges: 1) pool_shrink_rwsem -> (init_mm).mmap_lock The TTM shrinker restores the caching attribute of every page it frees, while holding pool_shrink_rwsem: ttm_pool_shrink() -> ttm_pool_dispose_list() -> ttm_pool_free_page() -> set_pages_wb() -> change_page_attr_set_clr() [ init_mm mmap read lock ] 2) fs_reclaim -> pool_shrink_rwsem The same shrinker, called from reclaim. 3) (init_mm).mmap_lock -> fs_reclaim ioremap() installing a huge PUD mapping over an existing PMD table: ioremap_page_range() -> vmap_range_noflush() -> vmap_try_huge_pud() [ init_mm mmap read lock ] -> pud_free_pmd_page() -> __get_free_page(GFP_KERNEL) [ enters reclaim ] [ dhansen: Lots of changelog munging/trimming and merged comments from my version of the fix. ]
What
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: x86/mm: Drop unnecessary PMD page copy when freeing On a box with a discrete GPU, lockdep reports a possible deadlock as soon as kswapd shrinks the TTM page pool. The immediate cause is an x86 commit that added an mmap_read_lock() to kernel page protection munging code. The huge vmap code holds the same lock over a GFP_KERNEL allocation, which is a no-no now that reclaim can take it. That allocation is in a page table *free* path and ends up being for dubious purposes[1]. Basically, it tries to avoid hardware setting Accessed=1 in page table entries that are unreachable by the hardware, a non-issue. Remove the PMD copy. Detach the original PMD page at the PUD, flush the mid-level caches, and free the PTE tables straight from the detached PMD page. With no allocation left, the locking issue is gone. Lockdep splat/analysis: WARNING: possible circular locking dependency detected 7.3.0-rc3-f6e7b42bf05b+ #183 Tainted: G U ------------------------------------------------------ kswapd0/269 is trying to acquire lock: ((init_mm).mmap_lock){++++}-{4:4}, at: change_page_attr_set_clr+0x29a/0x4a0 but task is already holding lock: (pool_shrink_rwsem){.+.+}-{4:4}, at: ttm_pool_shrink+0xb2/0x330 [ttm] Chain exists of: (init_mm).mmap_lock --> fs_reclaim --> pool_shrink_rwsem The cycle is built from three edges: 1) pool_shrink_rwsem -> (init_mm).mmap_lock The TTM shrinker restores the caching attribute of every page it frees, while holding pool_shrink_rwsem: ttm_pool_shrink() -> ttm_pool_dispose_list() -> ttm_pool_free_page() -> set_pages_wb() -> change_page_attr_set_clr() [ init_mm mmap read lock ] 2) fs_reclaim -> pool_shrink_rwsem The same shrinker, called from reclaim. 3) (init_mm).mmap_lock -> fs_reclaim ioremap() installing a huge PUD mapping over an existing PMD table: ioremap_page_range() -> vmap_range_noflush() -> vmap_try_huge_pud() [ init_mm mmap read lock ] -> pud_free_pmd_page() -> __get_free_page(GFP_KERNEL) [ enters reclaim ] [ dhansen: Lots of changelog munging/trimming and merged comments from my version of the fix. ]
Why
The current structured CVE record identifies a security weakness, but the root cause requires confirmation in the linked vendor material.
How
An attacker operating through the affected interface may attempt exploitation when the stated preconditions are met. If successful, the issue may cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor.
What
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: x86/mm: Drop unnecessary PMD page copy when freeing On a box with a discrete GPU, lockdep reports a possible deadlock as soon as kswapd shrinks the TTM page pool. The immediate cause is an x86 commit that added an mmap_read_lock() to kernel page protection munging code. The huge vmap code holds the same lock over a GFP_KERNEL allocation, which is a no-no now that reclaim can take it. That allocation is in a page table *free* path and ends up being for dubious purposes[1]. Basically, it tries to avoid hardware setting Accessed=1 in page table entries that are unreachable by the hardware, a non-issue. Remove the PMD copy. Detach the original PMD page at the PUD, flush the mid-level caches, and free the PTE tables straight from the detached PMD page. With no allocation left, the locking issue is gone. Lockdep splat/analysis: WARNING: possible circular locking dependency detected 7.3.0-rc3-f6e7b42bf05b+ #183 Tainted: G U ------------------------------------------------------ kswapd0/269 is trying to acquire lock: ((init_mm).mmap_lock){++++}-{4:4}, at: change_page_attr_set_clr+0x29a/0x4a0 but task is already holding lock: (pool_shrink_rwsem){.+.+}-{4:4}, at: ttm_pool_shrink+0xb2/0x330 [ttm] Chain exists of: (init_mm).mmap_lock --> fs_reclaim --> pool_shrink_rwsem The cycle is built from three edges: 1) pool_shrink_rwsem -> (init_mm).mmap_lock The TTM shrinker restores the caching attribute of every page it frees, while holding pool_shrink_rwsem: ttm_pool_shrink() -> ttm_pool_dispose_list() -> ttm_pool_free_page() -> set_pages_wb() -> change_page_attr_set_clr() [ init_mm mmap read lock ] 2) fs_reclaim -> pool_shrink_rwsem The same shrinker, called from reclaim. 3) (init_mm).mmap_lock -> fs_reclaim ioremap() installing a huge PUD mapping over an existing PMD table: ioremap_page_range() -> vmap_range_noflush() -> vmap_try_huge_pud() [ init_mm mmap read lock ] -> pud_free_pmd_page() -> __get_free_page(GFP_KERNEL) [ enters reclaim ] [ dhansen: Lots of changelog munging/trimming and merged comments from my version of the fix. ]
Why
The current structured CVE record identifies a security weakness, but the root cause requires confirmation in the linked vendor material.
How
An attacker operating through the affected interface may attempt exploitation when the stated preconditions are met. If successful, the issue may cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor.
02
Exploit reality and attack path
CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.
Observed exploitation No confirmed evidence
?
Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.No CISA KEV match was present at the last successful refresh. This means no confirmation from that source, not proof of no exploitation.
Public PoC / exploit material None recorded
?
Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.No exploit-tagged reference or CISA SSVC proof-of-concept state is currently recorded. Research may still exist outside the structured feeds.
- Likely attack path
- the affected interface → vulnerable operation → cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor
- Attack surface
- Unspecified
- Privileges required
- Not stated in the selected CVSS metric
- User interaction
- Not stated in the selected CVSS metric
- Attack complexity
- Not stated in the selected CVSS metric
- Security boundary
- Not stated in the selected CVSS metric
- Weakness
?
CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration. - CWE not yet assigned
- CVSS vector
?
CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity. Not available from the selected scoring authority.- Post-exploitation / living off the land
- No specific living-off-the-land technique is confirmed in the structured sources. Monitor normal administration tools for activity inconsistent with the affected service's baseline.
03
Patch and workaround
Operational remediation based on structured source evidence.
- Status
?
Patch availability is based on structured fixed-version fields and authoritative update references. If no fix is verified, check the vendor advisory before making a change. - Fix not verified
- Affected
- Linux: e21a9ea81426a85fdb0cdcfcc99d5d9c16b402ab < d3c2d2692bdf4af94bb27bc7a3aa0a348a567606, cc73b2043d106b467accd38e9b1fc09e0607c056 < f38c57a28ebbd057471573e39555d5aa11ab03cf, d5d8b8662e6e5a565b47a0388640e88402f23274 < e3ee38c1bc0b11a8d3e63dce7050759b61864286, 6.18.53 < 6.18.56, 7.2.7 < 7.2.10
- Fixed
- No fixed version is explicitly recorded in the structured CVE data.
- Action
- No verified patch reference is present in the current structured sources. Check the vendor advisory before making a change.
- Workaround
- No verified workaround is recorded. Limit untrusted access and use least privilege until authoritative guidance is available.
04
Evidence and provenance
Published 23 Oct 2026 · Last source change 23 Oct 2026, 12:12 UTC · CWE not yet assigned
CVE recordCVE.org · 5.2
CVSS sourceUnavailable
EPSS source Unavailable
?
The date BlackTree first stored a score for this CVE from the daily FIRST EPSS feed.European sourceNo official EUVD mapping
Product sourceCNA
Remediation sourceCVE/CNA references
CWE sourceUnavailable
NVD statusNVD received
Missing structured fields: CVSS base score, CWE classification. Missing data is not evidence of low risk; review the primary advisory.
Material change intelligence
View recent updates ↗What changed after publication
- Catalogue recordCVE added to the BlackTree catalogue.CNA ↗
Technical terms and abbreviations used in this report
- CVE
- Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: the public identifier for one disclosed vulnerability.
- CVSS
- Common Vulnerability Scoring System: a technical severity framework; it is not patching priority by itself.
- EPSS
- Exploit Prediction Scoring System: FIRST's estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days; it is a forecast, not confirmation.
- CWE
- Common Weakness Enumeration: the standard category describing the underlying software or hardware weakness.
- CNA
- CVE Numbering Authority: an organisation authorised to assign and publish CVE records.
- CISA ADP
- Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Authorized Data Publisher: structured enrichment added to a CVE record.
- NVD
- National Vulnerability Database: NIST's enrichment service for CVE records.
- CERT / CSIRT
- A computer security incident response team that publishes warnings or coordinates incident response.
- PoC
- Proof of concept: public material that demonstrates or helps reproduce exploitation.
- CSAF
- Common Security Advisory Framework: a machine-readable format for security advisories.
- LoTL
- Living off the land: abuse of legitimate tools or system functions during an attack.