---
title: "CVE-2026-97525: Linux Kernel - Memory Management Issue"
description: "Linux kernel contains a memory management vulnerability caused by improper allocation and marking of split page tables in x86/mm/pat, letting attackers cause stale IOTLB cache entries leading to potential system instability, exploit requires kernel page table manipulation."
url: https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/CVE-2026-97525/
---

# CVE-2026-97525 Linux Kernel - Memory Management Issue

Linux kernel contains a memory management vulnerability caused by improper allocation and marking of split page tables in x86/mm/pat, letting attackers cause stale IOTLB cache entries leading to potential system instability, exploit requires kernel page table manipulation.

CVSS base score 8.2 /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 ↗](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97525)

## Details

Type

Memory Management Issue

Impact

Denial Of Service

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Published

25 September 2026

Updated

15 October 2026

## Vendor fix

Update to the Linux kernel version including commit 5ba2f0a15564 or later where the issue is fixed.

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

- [https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97525](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97525)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/84e0cd79d57f06b872154eb5d8f610584133f260](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/84e0cd79d57f06b872154eb5d8f610584133f260)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/922873cf4fc34124215070a8ad391bf831538bb9](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/922873cf4fc34124215070a8ad391bf831538bb9)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9e4a3ec3411bb6bb59e3c1f29b75609f1e87aac4](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9e4a3ec3411bb6bb59e3c1f29b75609f1e87aac4)

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## What this record can't tell you

- Whether you run the affected software, and where
- Whether an attacker can actually reach and exploit it
- The misconfigurations that never get a CVE number
- What it would cost the business, ranked into what to fix first

Panop answers these inside your environment, for this CVE and every other finding.

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