CVE-2026-68187

exec: fix unsigned loop counter wrap in transfer_args_to_stack()

N/A
Published: August 10, 2026 at 11:59 AM UTC
Updated: August 19, 2026 at 05:20 PM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorLinux Kernel

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Severity
N/A
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.2%

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: exec: fix unsigned loop counter wrap in transfer_args_to_stack() The stop value is derived from bprm->p >> PAGE_SHIFT. The index variable is an unsigned long. If bprm->p drops below PAGE_SIZE and stop becomes zero the loop condition index >= stop is always true. After the index == 0 iteration the decrement wraps to ULONG_MAX and bprm->page[ULONG_MAX] reads sizeof(void *) bytes in front of the array. The pointer has wrapped to -1. That garbage pointer is then passed to kmap_local_page() and PAGE_SIZE bytes are copied from wherever that lands into the stack of the process being created. And the loop doesn't terminate either... Getting there only requires bprm->p < PAGE_SIZE. On !MMU bprm_set_stack_limit() and bprm_hit_stack_limit() are empty. So the only constraint on how far bprm->p is pushed down is valid_arg_len(), i.e. that each individual string still fits in what is left. bprm->p starts at PAGE_SIZE * MAX_ARG_PAGES - sizeof(void *) so a single argument or environment string of a little over 31 pages leaves it in the first page: Oops - load access fault [#1] CPU: 0 UID: 0 PID: 1 Comm: victim Not tainted 7.2.0-rc4 #1 epc : __memcpy+0xd4/0xf8 ra : transfer_args_to_stack+0xaa/0xae s4 : ffffffffffffffff s2 : 0000000000000000 a1 : ffffffdc98000000 a2 : 0000000000001000 status: 0000000a00001880 badaddr: ffffffdc98000000 cause: 0000000000000005 [<801a5324>] __memcpy+0xd4/0xf8 [<800d5f6a>] load_flat_binary+0x43a/0x65e [<800a2de4>] bprm_execve+0x1d4/0x316 [<800a351a>] do_execveat_common+0x12e/0x138 [<800a3d44>] __riscv_sys_execve+0x38/0x4e Kernel panic - not syncing: Fatal exception in interrupt This is an arcane bug but we should still fix it. Count down from MAX_ARG_PAGES so the loop ends when index reaches stop, stop == 0 included. The iterations performed are unchanged for every other value of stop. Only CONFIG_MMU=n builds are affected, transfer_args_to_stack() is used by binfmt_flat and binfmt_elf_fdpic on nommu only. The loop predates git history. commit 7e7ec6a93434 ("elf_fdpic_transfer_args_to_stack(): make it generic") only moved it from binfmt_elf_fdpic.c into fs/exec.c and narrowed the copy to the used part of the first page. The condition and the decrement are unchanged from 2.6.12-rc2.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

2.6.12 ≤ v < 5.10.2652.6.12 ≤ v < 5.15.2162.6.12 ≤ v < 6.1.1832.6.12 ≤ v < 6.12.1012.6.12 ≤ v < 6.18.422.6.12 ≤ v < 6.6.1482.6.12 ≤ v < 7.1.62.6.12 ≤ v < 7.21da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac22.6.12
Vendor states this is fixed in 16cc4f5c1c4b9e45eca7f7deefa5410a292db599 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 2bc6bf70d41055377f390d06f0f3521deb62fd3b (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 55fa2c7f2b15583d1a2fe1b5abcc24377359339f (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 66e20942890a383eb39b2009a2ceb4c2ebec37ef (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 67cf5cdad823afb0530d6d0341fbf4ca07e93a09 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in a9eb5c4949008034909bc34ecfa0843ecc1d0ab3 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in c62bb00caba66e01fb578d5f0302f247dc64930a (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in dfc2a00742af4cb7251c1a8fbce4fbae3cc0de4e (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 2.6.12 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.10.265 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.15.216 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.1.183 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.12.101 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.18.42 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.6.148 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 7.1.6 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 7.2 (unaffected)

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet, and no fixed version or vendor advisory is recorded against it.

Quick Info

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