CVE-2024-42316

mm/mglru: fix div-by-zero in vmpressure_calc_level()

Published Aug 17, 2024 CVSS 3.1 · 5.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

mm/mglru: fix div-by-zero in vmpressure_calc_level()

evict_folios() uses a second pass to reclaim folios that have gone through
page writeback and become clean before it finishes the first pass, since
folio_rotate_reclaimable() cannot handle those folios due to the
isolation.

The second pass tries to avoid potential double counting by deducting
scan_control->nr_scanned. However, this can result in underflow of
nr_scanned, under a condition where shrink_folio_list() does not increment
nr_scanned, i.e., when folio_trylock() fails.

The underflow can cause the divisor, i.e., scale=scanned+reclaimed in
vmpressure_calc_level(), to become zero, resulting in the following crash:

[exception RIP: vmpressure_work_fn+101]
process_one_work at ffffffffa3313f2b

Since scan_control->nr_scanned has no established semantics, the potential
double counting has minimal risks. Therefore, fix the problem by not
deducting scan_control->nr_scanned in evict_folios().

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4008-1 linux-6.1 security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7154-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7155-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7156-1 Linux kernel (GKE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7154-2 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7196-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics epss

{'score': 0.00048}

epss

{'score': 0.00051}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
Vendors & Products Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Weaknesses CWE-369
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm/mglru: fix div-by-zero in vmpressure_calc_level() evict_folios() uses a second pass to reclaim folios that have gone through page writeback and become clean before it finishes the first pass, since folio_rotate_reclaimable() cannot handle those folios due to the isolation. The second pass tries to avoid potential double counting by deducting scan_control->nr_scanned. However, this can result in underflow of nr_scanned, under a condition where shrink_folio_list() does not increment nr_scanned, i.e., when folio_trylock() fails. The underflow can cause the divisor, i.e., scale=scanned+reclaimed in vmpressure_calc_level(), to become zero, resulting in the following crash: [exception RIP: vmpressure_work_fn+101] process_one_work at ffffffffa3313f2b Since scan_control->nr_scanned has no established semantics, the potential double counting has minimal risks. Therefore, fix the problem by not deducting scan_control->nr_scanned in evict_folios().
Title mm/mglru: fix div-by-zero in vmpressure_calc_level()
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
May 11, 2026, 8:30 PM
Reserved
Jul 30, 2024, 7:40 AM
Status
Modified
Published
Aug 17, 2024, 9:15 AM
Modified
Jun 17, 2026, 7:49 AM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Aug 17, 2024, 12:00 AM