Writable kernel alias via suppressed protection error
Published Dec 24, 2025 · Updated Dec 24, 2025
Protection failure in Linux 6.18 through 6.18.1 allows attackers to leave an arm64 kernel linear-map alias writable. In arch/arm64/mm/pageattr.c, __change_memory_common suppresses an error from updating the linear-map alias, so set_memory_ro or set_memory_rox reports success and its caller continues. The path requires rodata=on, an arm64 kernel, vmalloc-backed memory, and a failed permission change; public sources identify no direct attacker-controlled trigger or resulting compromise.
Summary
What happened
Protection failure in Linux 6.18 through 6.18.1 allows attackers to leave an arm64 kernel linear-map alias writable. In arch/arm64/mm/pageattr.c, __change_memory_common suppresses an error from updating the linear-map alias, so set_memory_ro or set_memory_rox reports success and its caller continues. The path requires rodata=on, an arm64 kernel, vmalloc-backed memory, and a failed permission change; public sources identify no direct attacker-controlled trigger or resulting compromise.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-68737
- Published
- Dec 24, 2025
- Updated
- Dec 24, 2025
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- Unavailable
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 24, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Dec 24, 2025Record 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=6.18
- Affected versionversion=a166563e7ec375b38a0fd3a58f7b77e50a6bc6a8 <3e2fc1e57a5361633a4bf4222640c6bfe41ff8ea
- Affected versionversion=a166563e7ec375b38a0fd3a58f7b77e50a6bc6a8 <e5efd56fa157d2e7d789949d1d64eccbac18a897
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What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Technologies
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