Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
powerpc/kexec_file: Prevent kexec range truncation
Sashiko AI review pointed out the following issue.
The __merge_memory_ranges() function incorrectly handles overlapping
memory ranges when merging them. Although sort_memory_ranges() sorts all
ranges by their start address in ascending order beforehand, the merge
logic remains defective in two ways:
1. It compares the current range's start against the previous element (i-1)
instead of the running target index (idx)
2. It unconditionally overwrites 'ranges[idx].end' with 'ranges[i].end'.
This logic flaw leads to critical memory truncation when a larger memory
range completely subsumes subsequent smaller ranges.
For example, consider a sorted input array with three ranges:
Range A (idx=0): [0x1000 - 0x9000]
Range B (i=1): [0x2000 - 0x5000] (completely inside Range A)
Range C (i=2): [0x6000 - 0x8000] (completely inside Range A)
1. When i=1 (Range B):
ranges[1].start (0x2000) <= ranges[0].end + 1 (0x9001) is TRUE.
The code executes: ranges[0].end = ranges[1].end, which erroneously
shrinks Range A's end from 0x9000 down to 0x5000.
2. When i=2 (Range C):
ranges[2].start (0x6000) <= ranges[1].end + 1 (0x5001) is FALSE.
The code falls into the else block, creating a broken new range.
As a result, valid memory fragments [0x5001 - 0x5fff] and [0x8001 - 0x9000]
are completely lost from the kexec exclude lists, potentially allowing
the crash kernel to overwrite active memory, causing data corruption
or crashes.
Fix this by ensuring the start of the current range is compared against the
end of the active merged range (idx), and use max() to safely prevent the
outer boundary from being truncated.
powerpc/kexec_file: Prevent kexec range truncation
Sashiko AI review pointed out the following issue.
The __merge_memory_ranges() function incorrectly handles overlapping
memory ranges when merging them. Although sort_memory_ranges() sorts all
ranges by their start address in ascending order beforehand, the merge
logic remains defective in two ways:
1. It compares the current range's start against the previous element (i-1)
instead of the running target index (idx)
2. It unconditionally overwrites 'ranges[idx].end' with 'ranges[i].end'.
This logic flaw leads to critical memory truncation when a larger memory
range completely subsumes subsequent smaller ranges.
For example, consider a sorted input array with three ranges:
Range A (idx=0): [0x1000 - 0x9000]
Range B (i=1): [0x2000 - 0x5000] (completely inside Range A)
Range C (i=2): [0x6000 - 0x8000] (completely inside Range A)
1. When i=1 (Range B):
ranges[1].start (0x2000) <= ranges[0].end + 1 (0x9001) is TRUE.
The code executes: ranges[0].end = ranges[1].end, which erroneously
shrinks Range A's end from 0x9000 down to 0x5000.
2. When i=2 (Range C):
ranges[2].start (0x6000) <= ranges[1].end + 1 (0x5001) is FALSE.
The code falls into the else block, creating a broken new range.
As a result, valid memory fragments [0x5001 - 0x5fff] and [0x8001 - 0x9000]
are completely lost from the kexec exclude lists, potentially allowing
the crash kernel to overwrite active memory, causing data corruption
or crashes.
Fix this by ensuring the start of the current range is compared against the
end of the active merged range (idx), and use max() to safely prevent the
outer boundary from being truncated.
Published:
2026-09-16
Score:
n/a
EPSS:
n/a
KEV:
No
Analysis
Analysis and contextual insights are available on OpenCVE Cloud.
Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).
| Vendor | Product | Default status | Versions | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | unaffected |
|
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| Linux | Linux | affected |
|
No data.
No data.
No data available yet.
Remediation
No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.
Additional remediation guidance may be available on OpenCVE Cloud.
Tracking
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Advisories
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References
History
Wed, 16 Sep 2026 10:45:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: powerpc/kexec_file: Prevent kexec range truncation Sashiko AI review pointed out the following issue. The __merge_memory_ranges() function incorrectly handles overlapping memory ranges when merging them. Although sort_memory_ranges() sorts all ranges by their start address in ascending order beforehand, the merge logic remains defective in two ways: 1. It compares the current range's start against the previous element (i-1) instead of the running target index (idx) 2. It unconditionally overwrites 'ranges[idx].end' with 'ranges[i].end'. This logic flaw leads to critical memory truncation when a larger memory range completely subsumes subsequent smaller ranges. For example, consider a sorted input array with three ranges: Range A (idx=0): [0x1000 - 0x9000] Range B (i=1): [0x2000 - 0x5000] (completely inside Range A) Range C (i=2): [0x6000 - 0x8000] (completely inside Range A) 1. When i=1 (Range B): ranges[1].start (0x2000) <= ranges[0].end + 1 (0x9001) is TRUE. The code executes: ranges[0].end = ranges[1].end, which erroneously shrinks Range A's end from 0x9000 down to 0x5000. 2. When i=2 (Range C): ranges[2].start (0x6000) <= ranges[1].end + 1 (0x5001) is FALSE. The code falls into the else block, creating a broken new range. As a result, valid memory fragments [0x5001 - 0x5fff] and [0x8001 - 0x9000] are completely lost from the kexec exclude lists, potentially allowing the crash kernel to overwrite active memory, causing data corruption or crashes. Fix this by ensuring the start of the current range is compared against the end of the active merged range (idx), and use max() to safely prevent the outer boundary from being truncated. | |
| Title | powerpc/kexec_file: Prevent kexec range truncation | |
| First Time appeared |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| Vendors & Products |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| References |
|
MITRE
Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Linux
Published:
Updated: 2026-09-16T10:32:44.623Z
Reserved: 2026-09-11T19:38:34.778Z
Link: CVE-2026-89962
Vulnrichment
No data.
NVD
Status : Received
Published: 2026-09-16T11:17:06.687
Modified: 2026-09-16T11:17:06.687
Link: CVE-2026-89962
Redhat
No data.
OpenCVE Enrichment
No data.
Weaknesses
No weakness.