Memory Management Vulnerability in Linux Kernel Affecting x86 32-bit Architecture

CVE-2026-64181

What is CVE-2026-64181?

A memory management vulnerability has been identified within the Linux kernel that affects x86 32-bit architectures with Transparent Huge Pages (THP) enabled. The issue arises from improper handling in functions related to page table entries, leading to potential 'Bad rss-counter state' and 'Bad page state' errors during memory reclaim. This oversight occurs when the special attributes of huge pages are not properly recognized due to specific configuration settings, potentially allowing attackers to exploit memory management inconsistencies. Systems running vulnerable versions of the Linux kernel should prioritize applying the latest patches to mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability.

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