CVE-2026-46020

CVE-2026-46020 is a high-severity vulnerability in Linux Linux Kernel with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.1. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-125.

Key facts

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm/damon/core: validate damos_quota_goal->nid for node_mem_{used,free}_bp Patch series "mm/damon/core: validate damos_quota_goal->nid". node_mem[cg]_{used,free}_bp DAMOS quota goals receive the node id. The node id is used for si_meminfo_node() and NODE_DATA() without proper validation. As a result, privileged users can trigger an out of bounds memory access using DAMON_SYSFS. Fix the issues. The issue was originally reported [1] with a fix by another author. The original author announced [2] that they will stop working including the fix that was still in the review stage. Hence I'm restarting this. This patch (of 2): Users can set damos_quota_goal->nid with arbitrary value for node_mem_{used,free}_bp. But DAMON core is using those for si_meminfo_node() without the validation of the value. This can result in out of bounds memory access. The issue can actually triggered using DAMON user-space tool (damo), like below. $ sudo ./damo start --damos_action stat \ --damos_quota_goal node_mem_used_bp 50% -1 \ --damos_quota_interval 1s $ sudo dmesg [...] [ 65.565986] Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 0000000000000098 Fix this issue by adding the validation of the given node. If an invalid node id is given, it returns 0% for used memory ratio, and 100% for free memory ratio.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2026-46020?
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm/damon/core: validate damos_quota_goal->nid for node_mem_{used,free}_bp Patch series "mm/damon/core: validate damos_quota_goal->nid". node_mem[cg]_{used,free}_bp DAMOS quota goals receive the node id. The node id is used for si_meminfo_node() and NODE_DATA() without proper validation. As a result, privileged users can trigger an out of bounds memory access using DAMON_SYSFS. Fix the issues. The issue was originally reported [1] with a fix by another author. The original author announced [2] that they will stop working including the fix that was still in the review stage. Hence I'm restarting this. This patch (of 2): Users can set damos_quota_goal->nid with arbitrary value for node_mem_{used,free}_bp. But DAMON core is using those for si_meminfo_node() without the validation of the value. This can result in out of bounds memory access. The issue can actually triggered using DAMON user-space tool (damo), like below. $ sudo ./damo start --damos_action stat \ --damos_quota_goal node_mem_used_bp 50% -1 \ --damos_quota_interval 1s $ sudo dmesg [...] [ 65.565986] Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 0000000000000098 Fix this issue by adding the validation of the given node. If an invalid node id is given, it returns 0% for used memory ratio, and 100% for free memory ratio.
How severe is CVE-2026-46020?
CVE-2026-46020 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.1, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability high.
Is CVE-2026-46020 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (3rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2026-46020?
CVE-2026-46020 affects Linux Linux Kernel. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2026-46020?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
Does CVE-2026-46020 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
Yes. CVE-2026-46020 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2026-32401.
When was CVE-2026-46020 published?
CVE-2026-46020 was published on 2026-05-27 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (1)

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