Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
mm: memcg: stop reclaim when a limit update is superseded
kernfs serializes file operations only per open file, so separate open
files can update the same memory.high or memory.max file concurrently.
Both handlers store the new limit before synchronous reclaim, but continue
to use the writer's local target in the reclaim loop. If another writer
raises or removes the limit, the first writer can continue reclaiming
toward a stale target.
For memory.max, this can leave the writer looping indefinitely once
reclaim retries are exhausted. The OOM path sees sufficient margin under
the current limit and returns true without killing, while the writer still
compares usage against its stale target and records another OOM event.
Check the current limit at the start of each reclaim iteration and stop if
it no longer matches the writer's target.
Reproducer:
Populate a cgroup with anonymous memory and disable swapping. Lower
memory.max from one open file, then restore it to "max" through another
open file after the new limit becomes visible.
Without the patch, the first writer remains blocked and repeatedly
increments the OOM event counter. With the patch, it returns normally.
This was not motivated by a reported production workload. We found it
through automated randomized testing for our cgroup observability work
and reduced it to the reproducer above.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 4.4.7 – < 4.5, 4.5.1 – < 4.6, 4.6 | 4.5 |
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | linux | 7.2.6-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 6.12.111-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 6.1.190-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux-6.12 | 6.12.111-1~deb12u1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Nvidia-BlueField 24.04 LTS | linux-bluefield | 6.8.0-1036.41 | — |
| Ubuntu Nvidia-BlueField 22.04 LTS | linux-bluefield | 5.15.0-1103.105 | — |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux | 7.0.0-42.42 | USN-8959-1 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-aws | 7.0.0-1016.17 | USN-8959-1 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-azure | 7.0.0-1020.21 | USN-9019-1 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde | 7.0.0-1019.19 | USN-9020-1 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 7.0.0-1016.18 | USN-8959-1 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-gke | 7.0.0-1010.11 | USN-9020-1 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-ibm +1 | 7.0.0-1017.17 | USN-8960-1, USN-8959-1 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-nvidia +1 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 7.0.0-1015.16 | USN-8959-1 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-raspi | 7.0.0-1023.23 | USN-9021-1 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-realtime | 7.0.0-43.43.1 | USN-9020-1 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-riscv | 7.0.0-42.42.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux | 6.8.0-149.149 | USN-9022-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-aws | 6.8.0-1069.74 | USN-9022-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-aws-7.0 | 7.0.0-1017.18~24.04.1 | USN-9020-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-azure | 6.8.0-1073.82 | USN-9022-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde | 6.8.0-1071.78 | USN-9039-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde-7.0 | 7.0.0-1019.19~24.04.1 | USN-9020-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 6.8.0-1073.81 | USN-9022-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gcp-7.0 | 7.0.0-1017.19~24.04.1 | USN-9020-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gke | 6.8.0-1068.77 | USN-9022-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gkeop | 6.8.0-1053.57 | USN-9023-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-hwe-7.0 | 7.0.0-42.42~24.04.1 | USN-8959-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-ibm | 6.8.0-1069.70 | USN-9022-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency | 6.8.0-149.149.1 | USN-9022-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia | 6.8.0-1067.70 | USN-9024-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-lowlatency | 6.8.0-1067.70.1 | USN-9040-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 6.8.0-1067.71 | USN-9022-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-oracle-7.0 | 7.0.0-1016.18~24.04.1 | USN-9020-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-raspi | 6.8.0-1068.72 | USN-9025-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-riscv +32 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-riscv-7.0 | 7.0.0-42.42.1~24.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-vmware | 6.8.0-1010.10 | USN-9022-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux | 5.15.0-202.212 | USN-8961-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-aws | 5.15.0-1119.126 | USN-8961-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-aws-6.8 | 6.8.0-1069.74~22.04.1 | USN-9024-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure | 5.15.0-1125.134 | USN-8961-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure-6.8 | 6.8.0-1073.82~22.04.1 | USN-9026-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde | 5.15.0-1124.133 | USN-8962-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.8 | 6.8.0-1071.78~22.04.1 | USN-9026-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 5.15.0-1120.130 | USN-8961-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gcp-6.8 | 6.8.0-1073.81~22.04.1 | USN-9024-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gke | 5.15.0-1115.121 | USN-8961-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gkeop | 5.15.0-1102.110 | USN-8961-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-149.149~22.04.1 | USN-9066-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-ibm | 5.15.0-1113.117 | USN-8961-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-ibm-6.8 | 6.8.0-1069.70~22.04.1 | USN-9024-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-intel-iotg | 5.15.0-1114.120 | USN-8961-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-kvm | 5.15.0-1111.116 | USN-8961-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency | 5.15.0-197.207 | USN-8961-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-149.149.1~22.04.1 | USN-9024-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-nvidia | 5.15.0-1114.115 | USN-8961-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | 5.15.0-1070.72 | USN-8963-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra-igx | 5.15.0-1059.59 | USN-8963-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 5.15.0-1116.122 | USN-8961-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-oracle-6.8 | 6.8.0-1067.71~22.04.1 | USN-9025-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-raspi | 5.15.0-1113.116 | USN-9029-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +34 | No fix yet | — |
Show 18 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +28 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +14 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe-edge | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-raspi-realtime | 6.8.0-2056.58 | USN-9025-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-realtime | 6.8.1-1064.65 | USN-9023-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-realtime-6.14 +1 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS | linux-intel-iot-realtime | 5.15.0-1111.115 | USN-8961-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS | linux-realtime | 5.15.0-1118.127 | USN-8961-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS | linux-realtime-6.8 | 6.8.1-1064.65~22.04.1 | USN-9024-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS 20.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS 18.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS 16.04 LTS | linux-fips | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-aws-fips | 6.8.0-1069.74+fips1 | USN-9023-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-azure-fips | 6.8.0-1073.82+fips1 | USN-9022-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-fips | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-gcp-fips | 6.8.0-1073.81+fips1 | USN-9023-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 22.04 LTS | linux-aws-fips | 5.15.0-1119.126+fips1 | USN-8961-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 22.04 LTS | linux-azure-fips | 5.15.0-1125.134+fips1 | USN-8961-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 22.04 LTS | linux-fips | 5.15.0-202.212+fips1 | USN-8961-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 22.04 LTS | linux-gcp-fips | 5.15.0-1120.130+fips1 | USN-8961-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 18.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 16.04 LTS | linux-fips | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-preview 22.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux +10 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-aws-5.15 | 5.15.0-1119.126~20.04.1 | USN-8961-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-azure-5.15 | 5.15.0-1125.134~20.04.1 | USN-8961-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde-5.15 | 5.15.0-1124.133~20.04.1 | USN-8961-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-gcp-5.15 | 5.15.0-1120.130~20.04.1 | USN-8961-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-hwe-5.15 | 5.15.0-202.212~20.04.1 | USN-8961-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-ibm-5.15 | 5.15.0-1113.117~20.04.1 | USN-8961-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-intel-iotg-5.15 | 5.15.0-1114.120~20.04.1 | USN-8961-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15 | 5.15.0-197.207~20.04.1 | USN-8961-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15 | 5.15.0-1070.72~20.04.1 | USN-8963-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-oracle-5.15 | 5.15.0-1116.122~20.04.1 | USN-8961-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-riscv-5.15 | 5.15.0-1113.117~20.04.2 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | linux +12 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | linux +7 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | linux-aws +2 | No fix yet | — |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP5 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.12.14-122.333.2 | SUSE-SU-2026:4687-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLE Live Patching 12 SP5 | kernel-default | 4.12.14-122.333.2 | SUSE-SU-2026:4687-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 SP5 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP5_Update_88 | 1-8.3.3 | SUSE-SU-2026:4687-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | kernel-source | 7.2.7-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2026:11880-1 |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2023 | kernel-livepatch-6.1.188-233.385 +2 | 1:1.0-0.amzn2023 | ALAS2023-2026-3197, ALAS2023-2026-3196, ALAS2023-2026-3187 |
| Amazon Linux 2023 | perf +11 | 1:6.1.188-233.385.amzn2023 | ALAS2023-2026-3197 |
| Amazon Linux 2023 | perf6.12 +11 | 1:6.12.110-135.201.amzn2023 | ALAS2023-2026-3196 |
| Amazon Linux 2023 | perf6.18 +12 | 1:6.18.51-120.162.amzn2023 | ALAS2023-2026-3187 |
Azure Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Linux 3 | kernel | 6.6.157.1-1 | — |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 9 | kernel-uek +34 | 6.12.0-207.111.5.1.el10uek | ELSA-2026-500374 |
Advisories 24
- USN-9066-1 linux-hwe-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-9021-1 linux-raspi vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-9022-1 linux, linux-aws, linux-azure, linux-azure-fips, linux-gcp, linux-gke, linux-ibm, linux-lowlatency, linux-oracle, linux-vmware vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-9024-1 linux-aws-6.8, linux-gcp-6.8, linux-ibm-6.8, linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8, linux-nvidia, linux-realtime-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-9026-1 linux-azure-6.8, linux-azure-fde-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-9039-1 linux-azure-fde vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-9040-1 linux-nvidia-lowlatency vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-8961-1 linux, linux-aws, linux-aws-5.15, linux-aws-fips, linux-azure, linux-azure-5.15, linux-azure-fde-5.15, linux-azure-fips, linux-fips, linux-gcp, linux-gcp-5.15, linux-gcp-fips, linux-gke, linux-gkeop, linux-hwe-5.15, linux-ibm, linux-ibm-5.15, linux-intel-iot-realtime, linux-intel-iotg, linux-intel-iotg-5.15, linux-kvm, linux-lowlatency, linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15, linux-nvidia, linux-oracle, linux-oracle-5.15, linux-realtime vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-9020-1 linux-aws-7.0, linux-azure-fde, linux-azure-fde-7.0, linux-gcp-7.0, linux-gke, linux-oracle-7.0, linux-realtime vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-8959-1 linux, linux-aws, linux-gcp, linux-hwe-7.0, linux-ibm, linux-oracle vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-8963-1 linux-nvidia-tegra, linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15, linux-nvidia-tegra-igx vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-9025-1 linux-oracle-6.8, linux-raspi, linux-raspi-realtime vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-9023-1 linux-aws-fips, linux-gcp-fips, linux-gkeop, linux-realtime vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-9019-1 linux-azure vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-9029-1 linux-raspi vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-8960-1 linux-oem-7.0 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-8962-1 linux-azure-fde vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- WID-SEC-2026-3321 Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Nov 10, 2026
- ALAS2023-2026-3196 Important: kernel6.12 security update (Amazon Linux 2023) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Oct 21, 2026
- ALAS2023-2026-3197 Important: kernel security update (Amazon Linux 2023) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Oct 21, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:4687-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Oct 16, 2026
- ALAS2023-2026-3187 Important: kernel6.18 security update (Amazon Linux 2023) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Oct 12, 2026
- ELSA-2026-500374 Important: Unbreakable Enterprise kernel security update (Oracle Linux 9) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Oct 7, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2026:11880-1 kernel-devel-7.2.7-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Sep 25, 2026
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ebf762a393630d1582645be3f0fc22a674eb9122
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4ea0617b9e46d26c0a3e5af00308ea1931cc545d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5c6f87d33733d96fba66ea4e78cd8b24b4d60a49
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8bf21ad3657305e28deafd9ef16a121407496bc3
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/39ec1e4183a718f448b2e9de681dcbdda18fce42
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/95d87030cae7764805aa7c621c52871139297cb0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/aab391074de96ed601eeca32daef9a8507d436d9
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9477820c63cbf4d97114238f3d1ff10dfd6bee3f