CVE-2026-64181

Kernel accounting corruption via missing special-page handling

Published Jul 19, 2026 · Updated Jul 19, 2026

Improper special-page handling in affected Linux Kernel releases allows local users to trigger bad page state through 32-bit x86 THP. The vm_normal_page_pmd() and vm_normal_page_pud() paths treat huge-zero mappings as normal pages when pmd_special() or pud_special() support is absent, corrupting RSS and folio classification. Reachability requires a 32-bit x86 kernel with THP enabled; reclaim later encounters invalid page state after the huge-zero folio has been misaccounted as file-backed.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.13%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper special-page handling in affected Linux Kernel releases allows local users to trigger bad page state through 32-bit x86 THP. The vm_normal_page_pmd() and vm_normal_page_pud() paths treat huge-zero mappings as normal pages when pmd_special() or pud_special() support is absent, corrupting RSS and folio classification. Reachability requires a 32-bit x86 kernel with THP enabled; reclaim later encounters invalid page state after the huge-zero folio has been misaccounted as file-backed.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-64181
Published
Jul 19, 2026
Updated
Jul 19, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 19, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jul 19, 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=6.18
  2. Affected versionversion=af38538801c6a97565b44700ee6695d7d60ad779 <62153767e8fc3889bc6508e9ffe927aaf64c4334
  3. Affected versionversion=af38538801c6a97565b44700ee6695d7d60ad779 <9052ea2ee2233be5d4786b8909151ca2bfbedf99
  4. Affected versionversion=af38538801c6a97565b44700ee6695d7d60ad779 <c0c6ccd9828c3a1950623b546fa57292a77b5c73

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=6.18; version=af38538801c6a97565b44700ee6695d7d60ad779 <62153767e8fc3889bc6508e9ffe927aaf64c4334; version=af38538801c6a97565b44700ee6695d7d60ad779 <9052ea2ee2233be5d4786b8909151ca2bfbedf99; version=af38538801c6a97565b44700ee6695d7d60ad779 <c0c6ccd9828c3a1950623b546fa57292a77b5c73

Published CVSS scores

7.8Linux kernel CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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