CVE-2026-90046 Linux Kernel - Privilege Escalation

Linux kernel contains a privilege escalation vulnerability caused by unsafe use of spin_trylock() in NMI context on UP systems in mm/page_alloc component, letting local attackers crash the kernel and escalate privileges, exploit requires BPF programs running in NMI on non-SMP builds.

CVSS base score 7.8 /10
High
CISA KEV
Not listed
Public exploit
None known
Authentication
Required
EPSS
0.17% chance of exploitation in 30 days
View the NVD record ↗

Details

Type
Privilege Escalation
Impact
Denial Of Service, Privilege Escalation
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Published
16 September 2026
Updated
15 October 2026

Vendor fix

Update to the latest Linux kernel version containing the patch for mm/page_alloc spin_trylock() in NMI on UP.

Patching closes this CVE. It does not tell you which of your systems run the affected version, or what else is exposed alongside them.

References

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