CVE-2026-53373 (CVSS 7.8)

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm/vma: do not try to unmap a VMA if mmap_prepare() invoked from mmap() The mmap_prepare hook functionality includes the ability to invoke mmap_prepare() from the mmap() hook of existing 'stacked' drivers, that is ones which are capable of calling the mmap hooks of other drivers/file systems (e.g. overlayfs, shm). As part of the mmap_prepare action functionality, we deal with errors by unmapping the VMA should one arise. This works in the usual mmap_prepare case, as we invoke this action at the last moment, when the VMA is established in the maple tree. However, the mmap() hook passes a not-fully-established VMA pointer to the caller (which is the motivation behind the mmap_prepare() work), which is detached. So attempting to unmap a VMA in this state will be problematic, with the most obvious symptom being a warning in vma_mark_detached(), because the VMA is already detached. It's also unncessary - the mmap() handler will clean up the VMA on error. So to fix this issue, this patch propagates whether or not an mmap action is being completed via the compatibility layer or directly. If the former, then we do not attempt VMA cleanup, if the latter, then we do. This patch also updates the userland VMA tests to reflect the change.

Is your site exposed to CVE-2026-53373?

Run a free security scan — no signup, results in seconds.

CVSS v3.1 Score

7.8

HIGH

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

EPSS — Exploit Prediction

0.0011

Probability of exploitation

0.02%

Percentile rank

EPSS estimates the probability that this vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. A higher score means more likely to be exploited.

References

Other References

https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5394bcb746503f2ae4b206212416dccea78e3773 https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/619eab23e1ce7c97e54bfc5a417306d94b3f6f13

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-53373? +

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm/vma: do not try to unmap a VMA if mmap_prepare() invoked from mmap() The mmap_prepare hook functionality includes the ability to invoke mmap_prepare() from the mmap() hook of existing 'stacked' drivers, that is ones which are capable of calling the mmap hooks of other drivers/file systems (e.g. overlayfs, shm). As part of the mmap_prepare action functionality, we deal with errors by unmapping the VMA should one arise. This works in the usual mmap_prepare case, as we invoke this action at the last moment, when the VMA is established in the maple tree. However, the mmap() hook passes a not-fully-established VMA pointer to the caller (which is the motivation behind the mmap_prepare() work), which is detached. So attempting to unmap a VMA in this state will be problematic, with the most obvious symptom being a warning in vma_mark_detached(), because the VMA is already detached. It's also unncessary - the mmap() handler will clean up the VMA on error. So to fix this issue, this patch propagates whether or not an mmap action is being completed via the compatibility layer or directly. If the former, then we do not attempt VMA cleanup, if the latter, then we do. This patch also updates the userland VMA tests to reflect the change. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 (HIGH).

How severe is CVE-2026-53373? +

CVE-2026-53373 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 7.8 out of 10, rated HIGH. This is a high-severity vulnerability that should be prioritized for patching. The EPSS score is 0.0011, placing it in the 0th percentile for exploitation probability.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2026-53373? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

CVE-2026-53373