CVE-2026-68166

userfaultfd: prevent registration of special VMAs

Published Aug 10, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.0 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

userfaultfd: prevent registration of special VMAs

Vova Tokarev says:

userfaultfd allows registration on shadow stack VMAs. With userfaultfd
access, you can register on the shadow stack, discard a page ... and
inject a page with chosen return addresses via UFFDIO_COPY.

Update vma_can_userfault() to reject VM_SHADOW_STACK.

While on it, also reject VM_SPECIAL so that if a driver would implement
vm_uffd_ops, it wouldn't be possible to register special VMAs with
userfaultfd.

Since VM_SPECIAL includes VM_DONTEXPAND which is set but hugetlb, exclude
hugetlb VMAs from the check for VM_SPECIAL.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4788-1 linux-6.12 security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6466-1 linux security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8887-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8888-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8889-1 Linux kernel (OEM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8887-2 Linux kernel (AWS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8888-2 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8887-3 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9003-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9022-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9023-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9024-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9025-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9026-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9039-1 Linux kernel (Azure CVM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9040-1 Linux kernel (Low Latency NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9043-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9066-1 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9091-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA Tegra) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-119
CWE-787
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-94
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.0, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

threat_severity

Important

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-119
CWE-787
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: userfaultfd: prevent registration of special VMAs Vova Tokarev says: userfaultfd allows registration on shadow stack VMAs. With userfaultfd access, you can register on the shadow stack, discard a page ... and inject a page with chosen return addresses via UFFDIO_COPY. Update vma_can_userfault() to reject VM_SHADOW_STACK. While on it, also reject VM_SPECIAL so that if a driver would implement vm_uffd_ops, it wouldn't be possible to register special VMAs with userfaultfd. Since VM_SPECIAL includes VM_DONTEXPAND which is set but hugetlb, exclude hugetlb VMAs from the check for VM_SPECIAL.
Title userfaultfd: prevent registration of special VMAs
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Nov 6, 2026, 4:45 PM
Reserved
Jul 30, 2026, 9:28 AM
Status
Received
Published
Aug 10, 2026, 1:20 PM
Modified
Nov 6, 2026, 5:19 PM
Severity
Important
Public date
Aug 10, 2026, 11:59 AM