CVE-2026-74482: mm/huge_memory: unlock i_mmap_rwsem before releasing after-split folios

mediumCVSS 6.4CVE-2026-74482

CSIRTS triage

vendor: Linux product: Linux kernel Denial of service Privilege escalation

What: The memory management huge page splitting function does not properly release locks before freeing memory, causing a potential use-after-free.
Who is affected: Systems running Linux kernel with transparent huge page support enabled.
Urgency: Medium priority; CVSS 6.4 indicates moderate severity and no active exploitation reported.
Action: Apply Linux kernel patch addressing CVE-2026-74482 when available.

AI-assisted analysis generated from the source advisory — verify against the original.

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Details

Source: Microsoft Security Response Center (INTL · vendor-psirt · site)
Severity: medium — CVSS 6.4
Published: 2026-08-11
Exploitation: Not in CISA KEV at last sync

Original advisory: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-74482

Exploitation outlook

EPSS (FIRST.org) estimates each CVE’s probability of exploitation in the next 30 days — here is the CSIRTS.com read on those numbers.

Low exploitation riskCVE-2026-744820.13% 30-day exploitation probability — currently an unlikely target, but scores change as exploit code circulates. Riskier than 3% of all EPSS-scored CVEs.

Referenced CVEs

CVE	CSIRTS overview	External
CVE-2026-74482	coverage & exploitation status	NVD · CVE.org

Same CVEs, other sources

How other CERTs, PSIRTs and databases cover the vulnerabilities in this advisory.

Recent advisories for mm/huge_memory

A cluster of recent advisories against the same product widens the attack surface — attackers routinely chain freshly published CVEs on one product, so review these together.

highCVE-2026-74632: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm/huge_memory: fix huge_z…nvd · 2026-08-22
highCVE-2026-74482: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm/huge_memory: unlock i_m…nvd · 2026-08-15
unknownCVE-2026-72180: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm/huge_memory: preserve p…nvd · 2026-08-15
mediumCVE-2026-74632: mm/huge_memory: fix huge_zero_pfn racemsrc · 2026-08-11
mediumCVE-2024-42317: mm/huge_memory: avoid PMD-size page cache if neededmsrc · 2026-08-06