In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
mm: fix __vm_normal_page() to handle missing support for pmd_special()/pud_special()
On x86 32-bit with THP enabled, zap_huge_pmd() is seen to generate a
"WARNING: mm/memory.c:735 at __vm_normal_page+0x6a/0x7d", from the
VM_WARN_ON_ONCE(is_zero_pfn(pfn) || is_huge_zero_pfn(pfn)); followed by
"BUG: Bad rss-counter state"s, then later "BUG: Bad page state"s when
reclaim gets to call shrink_huge_zero_folio_scan().
It's as if the _PAGE_SPECIAL bit never got set in the huge_zero pmd: and
indeed, whereas pte_special() and pte_mkspecial() are subject to a
dedicated CONFIG_ARCH_HAS_PTE_SPECIAL, pmd_special() and pmd_mkspecial()
are subject to CONFIG_ARCH_SUPPORTS_PMD_PFNMAP, which is never enabled on
any 32-bit architecture.
While the problem was exposed through commit d80a9cb1a64a
("mm/huge_memory: add and use normal_or_softleaf_folio_pmd()"), it was an
oversight in commit af38538801c6 ("mm/memory: factor out common code from
vm_normal_page_*()") and would result in other problems:
* huge zero folio accounted in smaps, pagemap (PAGE_IS_FILE) and
numamaps as file-backed THP
* folio_walk_start() returning the folio even without FW_ZEROPAGE set.
Callers seem to tolerate that, though.
... and triggering the VM_WARN_ON_ONE(), although never reported so far.
To fix it, teach vm_normal_page_pmd()/vm_normal_page_pud() to consider
whether pmd_special/pud_special is actually implemented.
mm: fix __vm_normal_page() to handle missing support for pmd_special()/pud_special()
On x86 32-bit with THP enabled, zap_huge_pmd() is seen to generate a
"WARNING: mm/memory.c:735 at __vm_normal_page+0x6a/0x7d", from the
VM_WARN_ON_ONCE(is_zero_pfn(pfn) || is_huge_zero_pfn(pfn)); followed by
"BUG: Bad rss-counter state"s, then later "BUG: Bad page state"s when
reclaim gets to call shrink_huge_zero_folio_scan().
It's as if the _PAGE_SPECIAL bit never got set in the huge_zero pmd: and
indeed, whereas pte_special() and pte_mkspecial() are subject to a
dedicated CONFIG_ARCH_HAS_PTE_SPECIAL, pmd_special() and pmd_mkspecial()
are subject to CONFIG_ARCH_SUPPORTS_PMD_PFNMAP, which is never enabled on
any 32-bit architecture.
While the problem was exposed through commit d80a9cb1a64a
("mm/huge_memory: add and use normal_or_softleaf_folio_pmd()"), it was an
oversight in commit af38538801c6 ("mm/memory: factor out common code from
vm_normal_page_*()") and would result in other problems:
* huge zero folio accounted in smaps, pagemap (PAGE_IS_FILE) and
numamaps as file-backed THP
* folio_walk_start() returning the folio even without FW_ZEROPAGE set.
Callers seem to tolerate that, though.
... and triggering the VM_WARN_ON_ONE(), although never reported so far.
To fix it, teach vm_normal_page_pmd()/vm_normal_page_pud() to consider
whether pmd_special/pud_special is actually implemented.
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 |
|
||||||||||||||||||
| Linux | Linux | affected |
|
No data.
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Advisories
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Fixes
Solution
No solution given by the vendor.
Workaround
No workaround given by the vendor.
References
History
Mon, 20 Jul 2026 14:45:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Metrics |
cvssV3_1
|
Sun, 19 Jul 2026 16:15:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm: fix __vm_normal_page() to handle missing support for pmd_special()/pud_special() On x86 32-bit with THP enabled, zap_huge_pmd() is seen to generate a "WARNING: mm/memory.c:735 at __vm_normal_page+0x6a/0x7d", from the VM_WARN_ON_ONCE(is_zero_pfn(pfn) || is_huge_zero_pfn(pfn)); followed by "BUG: Bad rss-counter state"s, then later "BUG: Bad page state"s when reclaim gets to call shrink_huge_zero_folio_scan(). It's as if the _PAGE_SPECIAL bit never got set in the huge_zero pmd: and indeed, whereas pte_special() and pte_mkspecial() are subject to a dedicated CONFIG_ARCH_HAS_PTE_SPECIAL, pmd_special() and pmd_mkspecial() are subject to CONFIG_ARCH_SUPPORTS_PMD_PFNMAP, which is never enabled on any 32-bit architecture. While the problem was exposed through commit d80a9cb1a64a ("mm/huge_memory: add and use normal_or_softleaf_folio_pmd()"), it was an oversight in commit af38538801c6 ("mm/memory: factor out common code from vm_normal_page_*()") and would result in other problems: * huge zero folio accounted in smaps, pagemap (PAGE_IS_FILE) and numamaps as file-backed THP * folio_walk_start() returning the folio even without FW_ZEROPAGE set. Callers seem to tolerate that, though. ... and triggering the VM_WARN_ON_ONE(), although never reported so far. To fix it, teach vm_normal_page_pmd()/vm_normal_page_pud() to consider whether pmd_special/pud_special is actually implemented. | |
| Title | mm: fix __vm_normal_page() to handle missing support for pmd_special()/pud_special() | |
| 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: 2026-07-20T13:44:01.228Z
Reserved: 2026-07-19T07:54:57.039Z
Link: CVE-2026-64181
Vulnrichment
No data.
NVD
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Redhat
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OpenCVE Enrichment
No data.
Weaknesses
No weakness.