[PATCH v2] bpf: Fix use-after-free on mm_struct in bpf_find_vma()

From: Sanghyun Park

Date: Fri May 29 2026 - 04:07:48 EST


bpf_find_vma() reads task->mm without holding task_lock() or taking an
mm reference via mmget()/mmget_not_zero(). When called on a foreign task
obtained via bpf_task_from_pid(), a concurrent exit_mm() can free the
mm_struct between the raw pointer read and mmap_read_trylock(mm),
resulting in a use-after-free on the mm's mmap_lock.

This is the same bug class fixed by commit d8e27d2d22b6 ("bpf: fix mm
lifecycle in open-coded task_vma iterator") for the open-coded task_vma
iterator, but bpf_find_vma() in the same file was missed by that fix.

For the current task, task->mm is stable and needs no extra reference.
For a foreign task, use get_task_mm() which acquires task_lock(), checks
task->mm, and calls mmget() atomically, preventing the race with
exit_mm(). The reference is dropped via mmput() after the mmap lock is
released.

Race:
CPU0 (BPF program) CPU1 (exiting task)
============================ ==========================
bpf_find_vma(foreign_task):
mm = task->mm
// raw read, no reference
exit_mm():
task->mm = NULL
mmput(mm) -> frees mm_struct
mmap_read_trylock(mm)
// UAF: mm is freed

Reproduction:

1. Build kernel >= 5.17 with CONFIG_KASAN=y, CONFIG_BPF_SYSCALL=y
2. Boot in a VM (QEMU works fine)
3. Compile the reproducer below:
gcc -O2 -o repro -static repro.c -lbpf -lelf -lz
4. Run as root: ./repro
5. Check dmesg for: BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in down_read_trylock

The reproducer attaches a BPF program that calls bpf_find_vma() on a
foreign task obtained via bpf_task_from_pid(). A racing thread
repeatedly fork+exit's that task, creating a window where mm is freed.

KASAN report (reproduced on 6.12.91, CONFIG_PREEMPT + KASAN):

BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in down_read_trylock+0x380/0x3f0
Read of size 8 at addr ffff888003cd2fd0 by task repro/164451

Call Trace:
down_read_trylock+0x380/0x3f0
bpf_find_vma+0xdd/0x360
bpf_prog_708df9c9a3e172a7_main_f+0x8b/0x9e
bpf_trampoline_6442513469+0x43/0xa3

Freed by task 164453:
kmem_cache_free+0x15d/0x4b0
finish_task_switch.isra.0+0x4ab/0x810

Fixes: 7c7e3d31e785 ("bpf: Introduce helper bpf_find_vma")
Signed-off-by: Sanghyun Park <sanghyun.park.cnu@xxxxxxxxx>
---
v2: Rebased onto bpf-next to fix merge conflict (no code changes).

kernel/bpf/task_iter.c | 10 +++++++++-
1 file changed, 9 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/kernel/bpf/task_iter.c b/kernel/bpf/task_iter.c
index e791ae065c..015399e62b 100644
--- a/kernel/bpf/task_iter.c
+++ b/kernel/bpf/task_iter.c
@@ -757,6 +757,7 @@ BPF_CALL_5(bpf_find_vma, struct task_struct *,
task, u64, start,
struct vm_area_struct *vma;
bool irq_work_busy = false;
struct mm_struct *mm;
+ bool foreign = task != current;
int ret = -ENOENT;

if (flags)
@@ -765,7 +766,12 @@ BPF_CALL_5(bpf_find_vma, struct task_struct *,
task, u64, start,
if (!task)
return -ENOENT;

- mm = task->mm;
+ if (foreign) {
+ mm = get_task_mm(task);
+ } else {
+ mm = task->mm;
+ }
+
if (!mm)
return -ENOENT;

@@ -782,6 +788,8 @@ BPF_CALL_5(bpf_find_vma, struct task_struct *,
task, u64, start,
ret = 0;
}
bpf_mmap_unlock_mm(work, mm);
+ if (foreign)
+ mmput(mm);
return ret;
}

--
2.48.1