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CVE Record

CVE-2024-42234: mm: fix crashes from deferred split racing folio migration

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm: fix crashes from deferred split racing folio migration Even on 6.10-rc6, I've been seeing elusive "Bad page state"s (often on flags when freeing, yet the flags shown are not bad: PG_locked had been set and cleared??), and VM_BUG_ON_PAGE(page_ref_count(page) == 0)s from deferred_split_scan()'s folio_put(), and a variety of other BUG and WARN symptoms implying double free by deferred split and large folio migration. 6.7 commit 9bcef5973e31 ("mm: memcg: fix split queue list crash when large folio migration") was right to fix the memcg-dependent locking broken in 85ce2c517ade ("memcontrol: only transfer the memcg data for migration"), but missed a subtlety of deferred_split_scan(): it moves folios to its own local list to work on them without split_queue_lock, during which time folio->_deferred_list is not empty, but even the "right" lock does nothing to secure the folio and the list it is on. Fortunately, deferred_split_scan() is careful to use folio_try_get(): so folio_migrate_mapping() can avoid the race by folio_undo_large_rmappable() while the old folio's reference count is temporarily frozen to 0 - adding such a freeze in the !mapping case too (originally, folio lock and unmapping and no swap cache left an anon folio unreachable, so no freezing was needed there: but the deferred split queue offers a way to reach it).

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux kernel memory-management race can corrupt page state when deferred splitting overlaps large-folio migration. Reported outcomes include double-free-like conditions, kernel BUG/WARN messages, and crashes. Exploitation requires local, low-privilege access according to the supplied CVSS assessment, so exposed multi-user or workload-hosting systems deserve prompt attention.

Executive priority

Treat as a high-priority kernel update for systems permitting local users or untrusted workloads. Schedule prompt vendor-supported patching and reboot validation. There is no supplied evidence of active exploitation, so emergency internet-edge response is not indicated solely by this record; prioritize according to local-access exposure and service criticality.

Technical view

The race occurs because deferred_split_scan() temporarily moves folios onto a local list without split_queue_lock while migration can still reach them. The incomplete locking correction introduced around Linux 6.7 did not secure that list state. The published fix prevents migration from racing while the old folio reference count is frozen, including the anonymous-folio no-mapping case.

Likely exposure

The bundle identifies Linux 6.7, 6.9.10, and 6.10 as affected, but its version-range notation is incomplete or ambiguous. Systems running those kernels, especially where untrusted local users or workloads can execute, should be assessed. Confirm exposure against the exact vendor kernel build and whether either referenced stable fix is included.

Exploitation context

The supplied CVSS is 7.8 with local access, low complexity, low privileges, and no user interaction. Reported effects indicate memory corruption and denial of service, while the CVSS rates confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts high. KEV is false, and the supplied sources provide no evidence of active exploitation or a public exploit.

Researcher notes

The record describes an elusive concurrency flaw involving deferred splitting, memcg-related split queues, large-folio migration, and temporarily frozen reference counts. Symptoms varied and suggested double free. The two kernel.org references are the authoritative fix records supplied. Exact affected and fixed release boundaries cannot be established confidently from the bundle’s ambiguous version data alone.

Mitigation direction

  • Install a vendor-supported kernel update containing the referenced stable fix.
  • Check distribution security guidance for the exact corrected package and reboot requirements.
  • Restrict unnecessary local access and untrusted workload execution until remediation is complete.
  • Prioritize shared, multi-user, and workload-hosting Linux systems.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernel versions and vendor package release identifiers.
  • Verify whether either referenced fix commit is present in each deployed kernel.
  • Confirm updated systems booted into the corrected kernel after maintenance.
  • Review kernel logs for Bad page state, VM_BUG_ON_PAGE, BUG, or WARN events.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
4

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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CVE-2024-42234 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
1ADP providers
3Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2024-42234Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux9bcef5973e31020e5aa8571eb994d67b77318356, 9bcef5973e31020e5aa8571eb994d67b77318356unaffected
LinuxLinux6.7, 0, 6.9.10, 6.10affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.