Kernel-memory read and write via hugetlb VMA-lock race
Published May 1, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026
A race in Linux kernel 6.1 through 6.8.7 allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through concurrent fork and hugetlb hole punching. In dup_mmap, the child file VMA enters the i_mmap interval tree before hugetlb_dup_vma_private and vm_ops->open finish initializing its VMA lock. An unprivileged local account can drive both sides without a hugetlbfs mount or configured huge pages, enabling arbitrary physical-memory reads and writes or a persistent kernel hang.
Summary
What happened
A race in Linux kernel 6.1 through 6.8.7 allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through concurrent fork and hugetlb hole punching. In dup_mmap, the child file VMA enters the i_mmap interval tree before hugetlb_dup_vma_private and vm_ops->open finish initializing its VMA lock. An unprivileged local account can drive both sides without a hugetlbfs mount or configured huge pages, enabling arbitrary physical-memory reads and writes or a persistent kernel hang.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-27022
- Published
- May 1, 2024
- Updated
- Aug 5, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 1, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 5, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=6.1
- Affected versionversion=8d9bfb2608145cf3e408428c224099e1585471af <2e5cbab8ccbfc7d4a3d8a21d3c2a1f2c1aa29b5b
- Affected versionversion=8d9bfb2608145cf3e408428c224099e1585471af <35e351780fa9d8240dd6f7e4f245f9ea37e96c19
- Affected versionversion=8d9bfb2608145cf3e408428c224099e1585471af <abdb88dd272bbeb93efe01d8e0b7b17e24af3a34
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What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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