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CVE Record

CVE-2026-23244: nvme: fix memory allocation in nvme_pr_read_keys()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nvme: fix memory allocation in nvme_pr_read_keys() nvme_pr_read_keys() takes num_keys from userspace and uses it to calculate the allocation size for rse via struct_size(). The upper limit is PR_KEYS_MAX (64K). A malicious or buggy userspace can pass a large num_keys value that results in a 4MB allocation attempt at most, causing a warning in the page allocator when the order exceeds MAX_PAGE_ORDER. To fix this, use kvzalloc() instead of kzalloc(). This bug has the same reasoning and fix with the patch below: https://lore.kernel.org/linux-block/20251212013510.3576091-1-kartikey406@gmail.com/ Warning log: WARNING: mm/page_alloc.c:5216 at __alloc_frozen_pages_noprof+0x5aa/0x2300 mm/page_alloc.c:5216, CPU#1: syz-executor117/272 Modules linked in: CPU: 1 UID: 0 PID: 272 Comm: syz-executor117 Not tainted 6.19.0 #1 PREEMPT(voluntary) Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS rel-1.16.3-0-ga6ed6b701f0a-prebuilt.qemu.org 04/01/2014 RIP: 0010:__alloc_frozen_pages_noprof+0x5aa/0x2300 mm/page_alloc.c:5216 Code: ff 83 bd a8 fe ff ff 0a 0f 86 69 fb ff ff 0f b6 1d f9 f9 c4 04 80 fb 01 0f 87 3b 76 30 ff 83 e3 01 75 09 c6 05 e4 f9 c4 04 01 <0f> 0b 48 c7 85 70 fe ff ff 00 00 00 00 e9 8f fd ff ff 31 c0 e9 0d RSP: 0018:ffffc90000fcf450 EFLAGS: 00010246 RAX: 0000000000000000 RBX: 0000000000000000 RCX: 1ffff920001f9ea0 RDX: 0000000000000000 RSI: 000000000000000b RDI: 0000000000040dc0 RBP: ffffc90000fcf648 R08: ffff88800b6c3380 R09: 0000000000000001 R10: ffffc90000fcf840 R11: ffff88807ffad280 R12: 0000000000000000 R13: 0000000000040dc0 R14: 0000000000000001 R15: ffffc90000fcf620 FS: 0000555565db33c0(0000) GS:ffff8880be26c000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 000000002000000c CR3: 0000000003b72000 CR4: 00000000000006f0 Call Trace: <TASK> alloc_pages_mpol+0x236/0x4d0 mm/mempolicy.c:2486 alloc_frozen_pages_noprof+0x149/0x180 mm/mempolicy.c:2557 ___kmalloc_large_node+0x10c/0x140 mm/slub.c:5598 __kmalloc_large_node_noprof+0x25/0xc0 mm/slub.c:5629 __do_kmalloc_node mm/slub.c:5645 [inline] __kmalloc_noprof+0x483/0x6f0 mm/slub.c:5669 kmalloc_noprof include/linux/slab.h:961 [inline] kzalloc_noprof include/linux/slab.h:1094 [inline] nvme_pr_read_keys+0x8f/0x4c0 drivers/nvme/host/pr.c:245 blkdev_pr_read_keys block/ioctl.c:456 [inline] blkdev_common_ioctl+0x1b71/0x29b0 block/ioctl.c:730 blkdev_ioctl+0x299/0x700 block/ioctl.c:786 vfs_ioctl fs/ioctl.c:51 [inline] __do_sys_ioctl fs/ioctl.c:597 [inline] __se_sys_ioctl fs/ioctl.c:583 [inline] __x64_sys_ioctl+0x1bf/0x220 fs/ioctl.c:583 x64_sys_call+0x1280/0x21b0 mnt/fuzznvme_1/fuzznvme/linux-build/v6.19/./arch/x86/include/generated/asm/syscalls_64.h:17 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:63 [inline] do_syscall_64+0x71/0x330 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e RIP: 0033:0x7fb893d3108d Code: 28 c3 e8 46 1e 00 00 66 0f 1f 44 00 00 f3 0f 1e fa 48 89 f8 48 89 f7 48 89 d6 48 89 ca 4d 89 c2 4d 89 c8 4c 8b 4c 24 08 0f 05 <48> 3d 01 f0 ff ff 73 01 c3 48 c7 c1 b8 ff ff ff f7 d8 64 89 01 48 RSP: 002b:00007ffff61f2f38 EFLAGS: 00000246 ORIG_RAX: 0000000000000010 RAX: ffffffffffffffda RBX: 00007ffff61f3138 RCX: 00007fb893d3108d RDX: 0000000020000040 RSI: 00000000c01070ce RDI: 0000000000000003 RBP: 0000000000000001 R08: 0000000000000000 R09: 00007ffff61f3138 R10: 0000000000000000 R11: 0000000000000246 R12: 0000000000000001 R13: 00007ffff61f3128 R14: 00007fb893dae530 R15: 0000000000000001 </TASK>

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2026-23244 is a Linux kernel NVMe issue where user-provided input can make the kernel request an unusually large memory allocation while reading persistent reservation keys. The cited evidence shows a kernel allocator warning, not confirmed remote compromise or active exploitation.

Executive priority

Handle through normal kernel patch management unless your environment has high reliance on shared NVMe storage or untrusted local workloads. There is no source-backed evidence here of active exploitation or remote compromise, but kernel reliability issues should not remain untracked.

Technical view

In nvme_pr_read_keys(), num_keys comes from userspace and feeds struct_size() for the rse allocation. Values up to PR_KEYS_MAX can cause an allocation attempt up to about 4MB with kzalloc(), exceeding MAX_PAGE_ORDER and triggering a page allocator warning. The resolved fix uses kvzalloc().

Likely exposure

Exposure is most relevant to Linux systems using affected kernel versions with NVMe block devices and code paths that allow persistent reservation key reads. The version metadata is incomplete and includes ambiguous entries, so teams should verify against their exact kernel build and vendor advisories.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not show KEV listing, public exploitation, or remote attack evidence. The warning trace was produced by a syzkaller-style local userspace process on a 6.19 kernel. Treat this as a local kernel reliability issue unless vendor guidance states broader impact.

Researcher notes

The key evidence is the allocation path in nvme_pr_read_keys(): userspace num_keys, struct_size(), kzalloc(), and allocator warning above MAX_PAGE_ORDER. The public bundle does not provide CVSS, CWE, exploitability scoring, or distribution-specific fixed versions.

Mitigation direction

  • Check your Linux distribution or kernel vendor advisory for fixed builds.
  • Prioritize kernel updates containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Track systems with NVMe devices and persistent reservation usage.
  • Apply normal least-privilege controls for block device access.
  • Do not deploy direct wrangler or unrelated operational changes for this CVE.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory kernel versions on Linux systems with NVMe storage.
  • Compare running kernels against vendor fixed version guidance.
  • Review kernel logs for allocator warnings involving nvme_pr_read_keys.
  • Confirm patched source uses kvzalloc() in nvme_pr_read_keys().
  • Document any systems deferred from kernel patching.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
7

Public sources used

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

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

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CVE-2026-23244 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
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.

0CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
0ADP providers
6Source links

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.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux5fd96a4e15de8442915a912233d800c56f49001d, 5fd96a4e15de8442915a912233d800c56f49001d, 5fd96a4e15de8442915a912233d800c56f49001d, 5fd96a4e15de8442915a912233d800c56f49001d, 5fd96a4e15de8442915a912233d800c56f49001dunaffected
LinuxLinux6.5, 0, 6.6.130, 6.12.77, 6.18.17, 6.19.7, 7.0affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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