CVE-2026-74591: mm/filemap: __filemap_add_folio() restore index before retrying
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
mm/filemap: __filemap_add_folio() restore index before retrying
In __filemap_add_folio()'s split-a-conflict loop, xas_set_order() is
applied repeatedly: each application modifies xas.xa_index, rounding it
down according to the split_order attempted at that stage: and if all goes
as intended, it eventually (or immediately) converges on an
xas_try_split() to the required folio_order, with xas.xa_index now the
same as index: then xas_store() puts the new folio into the xarray there.
But if a new node was needed, and GFP_NOWAIT allocation did not get one,
the lock is dropped, xas_nomem() used to allocate, and sequence retried.
If (that part of) the xarray is unchanged when the lock is reacquired, no
problem. But what if the conflict was meanwhile resolved by another
thread (perhaps even doing the same thing, inserting a folio at that same
index)? Isn't there a danger of now putting our folio into the xarray at
an intermediate rounded-down index? With !folio_contains() bug to follow,
when CONFIG_DEBUG_VM=y is checking for that.
Fix this with an xas_set_order() to restore the original xas.xa_index at
the bottom of the loop, so the retry does a full re-evaluation after
reacquiring the lock, and cannot reach xas_store() with the wrong index.
Production was suffering from rare SIGILLs and SIGSEGVs, executable text
found a page away from where it belonged, !folio_contains() bug hit when
debug enabled: symptoms not seen since this patch went in.
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A rare Linux kernel race can place memory-backed file data at the wrong page index. Reported production effects included illegal-instruction and segmentation-fault crashes, with executable code found one page from its intended location. The supplied record rates impact as critical, but does not establish that attackers can reliably trigger it remotely.
Executive priority
Treat as an urgent kernel maintenance issue because reported memory-placement corruption affected executable text and caused production crashes. Accelerate validation and patching across affected Linux systems, especially critical workloads. Balance the critical score against the absence of evidence for active exploitation or a demonstrated remote attack path.
Technical view
During __filemap_add_folio() conflict splitting, repeated xas_set_order() calls round down the xarray index. If allocation fails, the lock is released and another thread resolves the conflict, a retry may store a folio at an intermediate index. The fix restores the original index before retrying, forcing complete re-evaluation after lock reacquisition.
Likely exposure
Potential exposure is limited to systems running affected Linux kernel builds. The bundle lists versions including 6.15, 6.18.45, 7.1.9, and 7.2, but its version data is ambiguous and provides no distribution-specific matrix. Confirm exposure through each Linux distributor's advisory and backport status rather than version strings alone.
Exploitation context
The bundle marks this CVE as absent from KEV, and no supplied source reports malicious exploitation or a public exploit. Production crashes demonstrate real-world triggering, not attacker activity. Although the supplied CVSS vector uses network access, the evidence does not explain a remotely reachable trigger or establish that ordinary network exposure is sufficient.
Researcher notes
The defect is a concurrency-sensitive xarray state error involving lock release, allocation retry, and conflict resolution by another thread. Reproduction may be rare and configuration-dependent; CONFIG_DEBUG_VM exposed a folio containment failure. The record says symptoms stopped after patching, but supplies no attack primitive, reproduction conditions, affected-distribution mapping, or workaround.
Mitigation direction
Update to a Linux kernel build containing the applicable stable fix, following distributor or vendor guidance.
Reboot affected systems into the updated kernel after completing normal availability and compatibility checks.
If updating is delayed, monitor vendor guidance; the supplied sources identify no safe workaround.
Prioritize systems with unexplained crashes or workloads that frequently exercise file-backed memory and large folios.
Validation and detection
Inventory running kernel builds and compare them with distributor advisories and backport status for this CVE.
Confirm the running kernel contains the applicable referenced stable commit or an equivalent downstream backport.
Review crash telemetry for rare SIGILL, SIGSEGV, or folio containment debug failures.
After remediation, verify hosts run the patched kernel and monitor for recurrence of reported symptoms.
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Potential ATT&CK relevance
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CVE-2026-74591 mapping review
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0ADP providers
4Source links
CVSS vector scores
1 official score
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