Linux kernel hugetlb dissolves gigantic pages without runtime support
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
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- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 5 without a fix
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The Linux kernel hugetlb code is affected from 5.13, with fixes in 6.12.112, 6.18.55, 7.2.9 and 7.3. The function dissolve_free_hugetlb_folio() does not check for gigantic pages without runtime support, so it frees a folio that is still on the free list. If vmemmap restore fails, the rollback corrupts that free list.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-30
Description from the CNA
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm/hugetlb: do not dissolve gigantic pages without runtime support dissolve_free_hugetlb_folio() doesn't check hstate_is_gigantic_no_runtime(h) though remove_hugetlb_folio()/ update_and_free_hugetlb_folio() silently bail for such folios, so it frees a still-listed folio and, on vmemmap restore failure, the add_hugetlb_folio() rollback corrupts the free list.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
Update the Linux kernel to 6.12.112, 6.18.55, 7.2.9 or 7.3 for the matching release line. The sources list no fixed version for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 and 9, Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 and Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5. Red Hat plans no fix for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-30
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.12.112, 6.18.55, 7.2.9, 7.3
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 3 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4
Timeline
- 2026-10-18 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98506
- 2026-10-18 Alias added: GHSA-rgpg-w634-4pfv
- 2026-10-19 Fix available: Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-10-20 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-20 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-30 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
More Linux vulnerabilities
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- TI-2021-02452 Incorrect authorization in Ubuntu linux kernel KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2013-05264 The (1) get_user and (2) put_user API functions in the Linux kernel before 3.5.5 on the… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2022-00125 Integer overflow in kernel KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2013-01864 The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
Sources
- CVE-2026-98506 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98506 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-rgpg-w634-4pfv · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98506 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences