In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
perf: Fix use-after-free when perf mmap() revival races with the last munmap()
perf_mmap_close() drops rb->mmap_count *without* holding event->mmap_mutex (the refcount_dec_and_test() right before the refcount_dec_and_mutex_lock() of event->mmap_count). A concurrent perf_mmap_rb() can slot its entire "revival" path into that window (perf_mmap holds event->mmap_mutex for its whole duration, including rb_alloc):
munmap side (perf_mmap_close) mmap side (perf_mmap_rb) ----------------------------------- -------------------------------- rb->mmap_count 1 -> 0 (no lock) (holds event->mmap_mutex) inc_not_zero(rb->mmap_count) fails ring_buffer_attach(event, NULL) rb_alloc() + attach new rb refcount_set(&event->mmap_count, 1) lock; event->mmap_count 1 -> 0 ring_buffer_attach(event, NULL) ring_buffer_put() -> frees the *new* rb
The revival's refcount_set(&event->mmap_count, 1) is an invisible 1 -> 1 write: the close frees the just-revived buffer although the other process still has it mapped -- a page-level use-after-free allowing local privilege escalation to root by any unprivileged user (default kernel.perf_event_paranoid=2).
Swap the order of the two counter updates: event->mmap_count is dropped first via refcount_dec_and_mutex_lock(), so its 1 -> 0 transition and the ring_buffer_attach() stay serialized with perf_mmap(). rb->mmap_count == 0 then implies every event using the buffer is detached already, so the result of the rb->mmap_count drop can gate the remaining teardown directly and detach_rest is no longer needed.
An earlier fix for this race from Kyle Zeng and David Lee takes event->mmap_mutex around both counter updates [0]; here the not-last close stays lockless.
| Product | Vendor Advisory | Solution File | Added | Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon_linux_2023 | — | Upgrade perf6.18-debuginfoUpgrade kernel6.18-tools-debuginfoUpgrade microvm-kernel6.18Upgrade kernel6.18-debuginfoUpgrade python3-perf6.18-debuginfoUpgrade python3-perf6.18Upgrade perf6.18Upgrade bpftool6.18-debuginfoUpgrade bpftool6.18Upgrade kernel6.18-toolsUpgrade kernel6.18-modules-extra-commonUpgrade kernel6.18-debuginfo-common-aarch64Upgrade kernel6.18-develUpgrade kernel-livepatch-6.18.54-121.166Upgrade kernel6.18-debuginfo-common-x86_64Upgrade kernel6.18Upgrade kernel6.18-modules-extraUpgrade kernel6.18-headersUpgrade kernel6.18-tools-devel | Oct 13, 2026 | Sep 16, 2026 |
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