In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
fs/proc/task_mmu: fix hugetlb self-deadlock in pagemap_scan_pte_hole()
A PAGEMAP_SCAN ioctl requesting PM_SCAN_WP_MATCHING on a hugetlb VMA hangs
the calling thread, unkillably, as soon as the scan reaches an unpopulated
part of the range:
do_pagemap_scan()
walk_page_range()
walk_hugetlb_range()
hugetlb_vma_lock_read() # take the vma lock for read ...
pagemap_scan_pte_hole() # ... ->pte_hole() for a hole
uffd_wp_range()
change_protection()
hugetlb_change_protection()
hugetlb_vma_lock_write() # ... and block taking it for write
walk_hugetlb_range() holds the hugetlb vma lock for read across the whole
walk. A present entry goes to ->hugetlb_entry(); an unpopulated one goes
to ->pte_hole(), i.e. pagemap_scan_pte_hole(). To write-protect the hole
that handler calls uffd_wp_range(), which on a hugetlb VMA reaches
hugetlb_change_protection() and takes the same vma lock for write. The
thread then blocks in down_write() waiting for the read lock it is itself
holding.
The populated path avoids this: pagemap_scan_hugetlb_entry()
write-protects the entry inline under the page-table lock and never enters
hugetlb_change_protection().
Do the same for holes. Fault in the page table and install the uffd-wp
marker directly with make_uffd_wp_huge_pte() under the page-table lock,
rather than routing through uffd_wp_range(). That is the same sequence
hugetlb_change_protection() runs for an unpopulated entry, minus the vma
write lock -- which is safe to skip because PMD sharing is disabled on
uffd-wp VMAs (hugetlb_unshare_all_pmds() runs at registration), leaving
nothing for that lock to serialise against.
fs/proc/task_mmu: fix hugetlb self-deadlock in pagemap_scan_pte_hole()
A PAGEMAP_SCAN ioctl requesting PM_SCAN_WP_MATCHING on a hugetlb VMA hangs
the calling thread, unkillably, as soon as the scan reaches an unpopulated
part of the range:
do_pagemap_scan()
walk_page_range()
walk_hugetlb_range()
hugetlb_vma_lock_read() # take the vma lock for read ...
pagemap_scan_pte_hole() # ... ->pte_hole() for a hole
uffd_wp_range()
change_protection()
hugetlb_change_protection()
hugetlb_vma_lock_write() # ... and block taking it for write
walk_hugetlb_range() holds the hugetlb vma lock for read across the whole
walk. A present entry goes to ->hugetlb_entry(); an unpopulated one goes
to ->pte_hole(), i.e. pagemap_scan_pte_hole(). To write-protect the hole
that handler calls uffd_wp_range(), which on a hugetlb VMA reaches
hugetlb_change_protection() and takes the same vma lock for write. The
thread then blocks in down_write() waiting for the read lock it is itself
holding.
The populated path avoids this: pagemap_scan_hugetlb_entry()
write-protects the entry inline under the page-table lock and never enters
hugetlb_change_protection().
Do the same for holes. Fault in the page table and install the uffd-wp
marker directly with make_uffd_wp_huge_pte() under the page-table lock,
rather than routing through uffd_wp_range(). That is the same sequence
hugetlb_change_protection() runs for an unpopulated entry, minus the vma
write lock -- which is safe to skip because PMD sharing is disabled on
uffd-wp VMAs (hugetlb_unshare_all_pmds() runs at registration), leaving
nothing for that lock to serialise against.
Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).
| Vendor | Product | Default status | Versions | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | unaffected |
|
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| Linux | Linux | affected |
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Advisories
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Fixes
Solution
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Workaround
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References
History
Sat, 15 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fs/proc/task_mmu: fix hugetlb self-deadlock in pagemap_scan_pte_hole() A PAGEMAP_SCAN ioctl requesting PM_SCAN_WP_MATCHING on a hugetlb VMA hangs the calling thread, unkillably, as soon as the scan reaches an unpopulated part of the range: do_pagemap_scan() walk_page_range() walk_hugetlb_range() hugetlb_vma_lock_read() # take the vma lock for read ... pagemap_scan_pte_hole() # ... ->pte_hole() for a hole uffd_wp_range() change_protection() hugetlb_change_protection() hugetlb_vma_lock_write() # ... and block taking it for write walk_hugetlb_range() holds the hugetlb vma lock for read across the whole walk. A present entry goes to ->hugetlb_entry(); an unpopulated one goes to ->pte_hole(), i.e. pagemap_scan_pte_hole(). To write-protect the hole that handler calls uffd_wp_range(), which on a hugetlb VMA reaches hugetlb_change_protection() and takes the same vma lock for write. The thread then blocks in down_write() waiting for the read lock it is itself holding. The populated path avoids this: pagemap_scan_hugetlb_entry() write-protects the entry inline under the page-table lock and never enters hugetlb_change_protection(). Do the same for holes. Fault in the page table and install the uffd-wp marker directly with make_uffd_wp_huge_pte() under the page-table lock, rather than routing through uffd_wp_range(). That is the same sequence hugetlb_change_protection() runs for an unpopulated entry, minus the vma write lock -- which is safe to skip because PMD sharing is disabled on uffd-wp VMAs (hugetlb_unshare_all_pmds() runs at registration), leaving nothing for that lock to serialise against. | |
| Title | fs/proc/task_mmu: fix hugetlb self-deadlock in pagemap_scan_pte_hole() | |
| First Time appeared |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| Vendors & Products |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| References |
|
Projects
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MITRE
Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Linux
Published:
Updated: 2026-08-15T05:53:39.276Z
Reserved: 2026-08-09T03:40:39.910Z
Link: CVE-2026-72174
Vulnrichment
No data.
NVD
Status : Received
Published: 2026-08-15T06:21:35.567
Modified: 2026-08-15T06:21:35.567
Link: CVE-2026-72174
Redhat
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OpenCVE Enrichment
Updated: 2026-08-15T20:30:14Z
Weaknesses
No weakness.