Local privilege escalation via detached VMA unmapping
Published Jul 19, 2026 · Updated Jul 19, 2026
Improper VMA cleanup in Linux Kernel 6.19 through 7.0.8 allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through the mmap syscall. The mmap_action_complete error path calls do_munmap() on a not-fully-established, already-detached VMA supplied through a stacked driver mmap hook, duplicating cleanup performed by the mmap handler. Ordinary local users can trigger the path by controlling mmap parameters on an open file descriptor; the corruption enables kernel-memory disclosure or modification, privilege escalation, and kernel panic.
Summary
What happened
Improper VMA cleanup in Linux Kernel 6.19 through 7.0.8 allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through the mmap syscall. The mmap_action_complete error path calls do_munmap() on a not-fully-established, already-detached VMA supplied through a stacked driver mmap hook, duplicating cleanup performed by the mmap handler. Ordinary local users can trigger the path by controlling mmap parameters on an open file descriptor; the corruption enables kernel-memory disclosure or modification, privilege escalation, and kernel panic.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-53373
- Published
- Jul 19, 2026
- Updated
- Jul 19, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux Kernel
- Classifications
- T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jul 19, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jul 19, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=6.19
- Affected versionversion=ac0a3fc9c07df79dc8a4ce9d274df00afc7bf12d <5394bcb746503f2ae4b206212416dccea78e3773
- Affected versionversion=ac0a3fc9c07df79dc8a4ce9d274df00afc7bf12d <619eab23e1ce7c97e54bfc5a417306d94b3f6f13
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What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Technologies
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Your stack
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