In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
KVM: x86: Fix shadow paging use-after-free due to unexpected GFN
The shadow MMU computes GFNs for direct shadow pages using sp->gfn plus the SPTE index. This assumption breaks for shadow paging if the guest page tables are modified between VM entries (similar to commit aad885e77496, "KVM: x86/mmu: Drop/zap existing present SPTE even when creating an MMIO SPTE", 2026-03-27). The flow is as follows:
- a PDE is installed for a 2MB mapping, and a page in that area is accessed. KVM creates a kvm_mmu_page consisting of 512 4KB pages; the kvm_mmu_page is marked by FNAME(fetch) as direct-mapped because the guest's mapping is a huge page (and thus contiguous).
- the PDE mapping is changed from outside the guest.
- the guest accesses another page in the same 2MB area. KVM installs a new leaf SPTE and rmap entry; the SPTE uses the "correct" GFN (i.e. based on the new mapping, as changed in the previous step) but that GFN is outside of the [sp->gfn, sp->gfn + 511] range; therefore the rmap entry cannot be found and removed when the kvm_mmu_page is zapped.
- the memslot that covers the first 2MB mapping is deleted, and the kvm_mmu_page for the now-invalid GPA is zapped. However, rmap_remove() only looks at the [sp->gfn, sp->gfn + 511] range established in step 1, and fails to find the rmap entry that was recorded by step 3.
- any operation that causes an rmap walk for the same page accessed by step 3 then walks a stale rmap and dereferences a freed kvm_mmu_page. This includes dirty logging or MMU notifier invalidations (e.g., from MADV_DONTNEED).
The underlying issue is that KVM's walking of shadow PTEs assumes that if a SPTE is present when KVM wants to install a non-leaf SPTE, then the existing kvm_mmu_page must be for the correct gfn. Because the only way for the gfn to be wrong is if KVM messed up and failed to zap a SPTE... which shouldn't happen, but *actually* only happens in response to a guest write.
That bug dates back literally forever, as even the first version of KVM assumes that the GFN matches and walks into the "wrong" shadow page. However, that was only an imprecision until 2032a93d66fa ("KVM: MMU: Don't allocate gfns page for direct mmu pages") came along.
Fix it by checking for a target gfn mismatch and zapping the existing SPTE. That way the old SP and rmap entries are gone, KVM installs the rmap in the right location, and everyone is happy.
CVSS Details
- CVSS 3.1 Base Score: 8.8
- CVSS 3.1 Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H)
Covered by Rapid7
| Product | Vendor Advisory | Solution File | Added | Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alma_linux | — | Upgrade kernel-tools-libsUpgrade kernel-rt-modulesUpgrade bpftoolUpgrade kernel-64k-develUpgrade kernel-rt-modules-coreUpgrade kernel-coreUpgrade kernel-64k-devel-matchedUpgrade kernel-64kUpgrade kernel-rt-debug-coreUpgrade kernel-rt-64k-modules-coreUpgrade kernel-debug-modulesUpgrade kernel-64k-modulesUpgrade kernel-rtUpgrade kernel-rt-64k-debug-modulesUpgrade kernel-modules-coreUpgrade kernel-64k-coreUpgrade kernel-debug-modules-extraUpgrade kernel-64k-debug-modules-extraUpgrade kernel-headersUpgrade kernel-debug-devel-matchedUpgrade kernel-rt-debug-modulesUpgrade kernel-rt-64k-debugUpgrade kernel-zfcpdumpUpgrade kernel-zfcpdump-modulesUpgrade kernel-zfcpdump-coreUpgrade kernel-rt-64kUpgrade kernel-rt-64k-debug-develUpgrade kernel-64k-debug-devel-matchedUpgrade rvUpgrade kernel-rt-debug-modules-coreUpgrade kernel-modules-extraUpgrade kernel-debug-modules-coreUpgrade kernel-64k-debugUpgrade kernel-abi-stablelistsUpgrade kernel-uki-virt-addonsUpgrade kernel-zfcpdump-modules-coreUpgrade kernel-rt-64k-develUpgrade kernel-toolsUpgrade kernel-uki-virtUpgrade kernel-rt-64k-coreUpgrade kernel-modulesUpgrade kernel-cross-headersUpgrade kernel-debug-coreUpgrade kernel-tools-libs-develUpgrade kernel-debug-develUpgrade kernel-rt-debug-modules-extraUpgrade kernel-zfcpdump-develUpgrade kernel-rt-64k-modulesUpgrade kernel-debugUpgrade kernel-rt-debugUpgrade libperfUpgrade kernel-devel-matchedUpgrade kernel-rt-develUpgrade kernel-rt-debug-develUpgrade kernel-rt-64k-modules-extraUpgrade kernel-64k-debug-coreUpgrade kernel-rt-coreUpgrade kernel-64k-debug-modules-coreUpgrade kernel-64k-debug-modulesUpgrade perfUpgrade python3-perfUpgrade kernel-docUpgrade kernel-rt-modules-extraUpgrade kernel-develUpgrade kernelUpgrade kernel-debug-uki-virtUpgrade kernel-rt-64k-debug-coreUpgrade kernel-64k-modules-extraUpgrade rtlaUpgrade kernel-rt-64k-debug-modules-extraUpgrade kernel-64k-debug-develUpgrade kernel-zfcpdump-devel-matchedUpgrade kernel-zfcpdump-modules-extraUpgrade kernel-64k-modules-coreUpgrade kernel-rt-64k-debug-modules-core | Jul 12, 2026 | Jul 9, 2026 |
| Amazon Linux Ami 2 | — | Upgrade perf-debuginfoUpgrade bpftoolUpgrade kernelUpgrade perfUpgrade kernel-livepatch-5.10.258-257.1041Upgrade kernel-tools-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-debuginfo-common-aarch64Upgrade kernel-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-tools-develUpgrade kernel-develUpgrade kernel-livepatch-5.15.209-147.245Upgrade kernel-headersUpgrade kernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64Upgrade python-perf-debuginfoUpgrade python-perfUpgrade bpftool-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-tools | Jun 23, 2026 | Jun 23, 2026 |
| Amazon_linux_2023 | — | Upgrade kernel-livepatch-6.18.30-61.116Upgrade kernel6.18-modules-extraUpgrade kernel6.18-debuginfo-common-aarch64Upgrade kernel6.18Upgrade kernel6.18-debuginfoUpgrade kernel6.18-debuginfo-common-x86_64Upgrade kernel6.18-headersUpgrade kernel6.18-toolsUpgrade perf6.18-debuginfoUpgrade kernel6.18-develUpgrade perf6.18Upgrade python3-perf6.18Upgrade bpftool6.18-debuginfoUpgrade kernel6.18-tools-develUpgrade bpftool6.18Upgrade kernel6.18-modules-extra-commonUpgrade kernel6.18-tools-debuginfoUpgrade python3-perf6.18-debuginfo | Jun 23, 2026 | May 28, 2026 |
| Debian | — | Upgrade linuxUpgrade linux-6.1 | Jul 5, 2026 | Jul 5, 2026 |
| Redhat_linux | — | No solution existsUpgrade kernel-rtUpgrade kernel | Jul 10, 2026 | May 28, 2026 |
| Rocky_linux | — | Upgrade rvUpgrade kernel-uki-virt-addonsUpgrade kernel-rt-debug-develUpgrade kernel-zfcpdump-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-devel-matchedUpgrade kernel-toolsUpgrade kernel-zfcpdump-modulesUpgrade libperfUpgrade kernel-zfcpdump-coreUpgrade perfUpgrade kernel-modules-coreUpgrade kernel-tools-libs-develUpgrade kernel-uki-virtUpgrade kernel-rtUpgrade kernel-rt-debug-modules-extraUpgrade kernel-debug-devel-matchedUpgrade perf-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-debuginfo-common-s390xUpgrade kernel-zfcpdump-modules-coreUpgrade libperf-debuginfoUpgrade python3-perfUpgrade kernel-rt-coreUpgrade kernelUpgrade kernel-modulesUpgrade kernel-modules-extraUpgrade kernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64Upgrade kernel-rt-modules-coreUpgrade kernel-debug-develUpgrade kernel-rt-debug-modules-coreUpgrade kernel-debug-modules-coreUpgrade kernel-zfcpdump-develUpgrade kernel-rt-modulesUpgrade kernel-debug-modules-extraUpgrade kernel-coreUpgrade kernel-rt-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-rt-debug-modulesUpgrade kernel-rt-debugUpgrade kernel-debug-coreUpgrade kernel-debugUpgrade kernel-rt-debug-coreUpgrade kernel-zfcpdump-modules-extraUpgrade kernel-zfcpdumpUpgrade kernel-zfcpdump-devel-matchedUpgrade kernel-develUpgrade kernel-rt-modules-extraUpgrade rtlaUpgrade kernel-modules-extra-matchedUpgrade kernel-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-debug-uki-virtUpgrade kernel-debug-modulesUpgrade kernel-debug-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-tools-libsUpgrade python3-perf-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-tools-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-rt-develUpgrade kernel-rt-debug-debuginfo | Jul 13, 2026 | Jul 11, 2026 |
| Ubuntu | — | Upgrade linux-image-6.17.0-1022-azureUpgrade linux-image-7.0.0-1003-gkeUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-136-generic-64kUpgrade linux-image-nvidia-7.0Upgrade linux-image-oem-24.04aUpgrade linux-image-realtime-64k-hwe-26.04Upgrade linux-image-realtime-64kUpgrade linux-image-6.17.0-1020-oracleUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1030-nvidia-tegra-rtUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1061-aws-64kUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1063-azureUpgrade linux-image-7.0.0-1008-gcp-64kUpgrade linux-image-realtime-hwe-24.04Upgrade linux-image-raspi-7.0Upgrade linux-image-realtimeUpgrade linux-image-virtual-hwe-22.04Upgrade linux-image-gke-64k-7.0Upgrade linux-image-oem-26.04aUpgrade linux-image-oracle-6.17Upgrade linux-image-raspiUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1062-azure-fdeUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-136-lowlatency-64kUpgrade linux-image-azure-fde-lts-24.04Upgrade linux-image-gcp-64k-7.0Upgrade linux-image-aws-6.8Upgrade linux-image-oem-22.04bUpgrade linux-image-realtime-6.17Upgrade linux-image-7.0.0-1016-nvidia-64kUpgrade linux-image-awsUpgrade linux-image-nvidia-tegra-rt-6.8Upgrade linux-image-nvidia-64kUpgrade linux-image-nvidia-bos-64kUpgrade linux-image-nvidia-6.8Upgrade linux-image-oem-24.04dUpgrade linux-image-gcp-fips-6.8Upgrade linux-image-generic-hwe-24.04Upgrade linux-image-oem-7.0Upgrade linux-image-nvidia-64k-6.17Upgrade linux-image-6.17.0-1022-gcpUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-136-genericUpgrade linux-image-realtime-64k-7.0Upgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1061-ibmUpgrade linux-image-lowlatency-64k-6.8Upgrade linux-image-virtual-6.8Upgrade linux-image-azure-fde-6.8Upgrade linux-image-oem-20.04dUpgrade linux-image-gcp-6.17Upgrade linux-image-gke-64kUpgrade linux-image-gcp-fipsUpgrade linux-image-gkeUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-2050-raspi-realtimeUpgrade linux-image-7.0.0-1011-gcp-64kUpgrade linux-image-oracle-64k-lts-24.04Upgrade linux-image-intel-iot-realtimeUpgrade linux-image-kvmUpgrade linux-image-gke-7.0Upgrade linux-image-laptop-23.10Upgrade linux-image-nvidia-64k-hwe-26.04Upgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1059-nvidia-lowlatency-64kUpgrade linux-image-gcp-64kUpgrade linux-image-oracle-6.8Upgrade linux-image-gcp-lts-24.04Upgrade linux-image-7.0.0-1014-azureUpgrade linux-image-oracle-64kUpgrade linux-image-oem-24.04cUpgrade linux-image-generic-64k-6.8Upgrade linux-image-6.17.0-1019-realtimeUpgrade linux-image-6.17.0-1031-nvidia-64kUpgrade linux-image-virtual-6.17Upgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1058-oracleUpgrade linux-image-aws-64k-lts-24.04Upgrade linux-image-aws-lts-24.04Upgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1059-nvidiaUpgrade linux-image-generic-7.0Upgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1063-azure-fipsUpgrade linux-image-7.0.0-1003-gke-64kUpgrade linux-image-6.17.0-1022-gcp-64kUpgrade linux-image-aws-64k-6.8Upgrade linux-image-oem-20.04Upgrade linux-image-realtime-6.8.1Upgrade linux-image-xilinxUpgrade linux-image-azureUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1064-gcpUpgrade linux-image-azure-6.8Upgrade linux-image-azure-7.0Upgrade linux-image-generic-64k-7.0Upgrade linux-image-raspi-6.8Upgrade linux-image-gke-64k-hwe-26.04Upgrade linux-image-ibm-lts-24.04Upgrade linux-image-aws-fips-6.8Upgrade linux-image-gke-6.8Upgrade linux-image-fips-6.8Upgrade linux-image-generic-64k-hwe-22.04Upgrade linux-image-7.0.0-1015-raspiUpgrade linux-image-nvidia-hwe-26.04Upgrade linux-image-lowlatency-64k-hwe-22.04Upgrade linux-image-gke-64k-6.8Upgrade linux-image-xilinx-6.8Upgrade linux-image-gcp-64k-6.8Upgrade linux-image-raspi-realtime-7.0Upgrade linux-image-raspi-realtimeUpgrade linux-image-nvidia-lowlatency-64k-6.8Upgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1030-nvidia-tegraUpgrade linux-image-oem-6.17Upgrade linux-image-nvidia-6.17Upgrade linux-image-realtime-hwe-22.04Upgrade linux-image-realtime-hwe-26.04Upgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1061-aws-fipsUpgrade linux-image-gcpUpgrade linux-image-azure-fips-6.8Upgrade linux-image-generic-hwe-26.04Upgrade linux-image-nvidia-hwe-22.04Upgrade linux-image-nvidia-bosUpgrade linux-image-nvidia-lowlatencyUpgrade linux-image-generic-hwe-22.04Upgrade linux-image-oem-20.04cUpgrade linux-image-generic-64k-6.17Upgrade linux-image-oem-22.04cUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1059-gke-64kUpgrade linux-image-7.0.0-1016-nvidiaUpgrade linux-image-7.0.0-1008-oracleUpgrade linux-image-azure-fipsUpgrade linux-image-oem-22.04dUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1064-gcp-64kUpgrade linux-image-nvidia-64k-hwe-22.04Upgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1059-gkeUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1033-xilinxUpgrade linux-image-6.17.0-1020-oracle-64kUpgrade linux-image-virtual-hwe-26.04Upgrade linux-image-ibm-7.0Upgrade linux-image-azure-6.17Upgrade linux-image-7.0.0-1009-oemUpgrade linux-image-realtime-7.0Upgrade linux-image-oracle-lts-24.04Upgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1064-gcp-fipsUpgrade linux-image-ibm-6.8Upgrade linux-image-6.17.0-1031-nvidiaUpgrade linux-image-generic-6.8Upgrade linux-image-7.0.0-1008-gcpUpgrade linux-image-7.0.0-28-generic-64kUpgrade linux-image-nvidia-tegraUpgrade linux-image-nvidia-64k-6.8Upgrade linux-image-ibmUpgrade linux-image-generic-64k-hwe-26.04Upgrade linux-image-fipsUpgrade linux-image-aws-64kUpgrade linux-image-7.0.0-28-realtimeUpgrade linux-image-7.0.0-1011-gcpUpgrade linux-image-oem-22.04aUpgrade linux-image-lowlatency-64kUpgrade linux-image-virtual-hwe-24.04Upgrade linux-image-oem-26.04Upgrade linux-image-azure-lts-24.04Upgrade linux-image-gcp-64k-lts-24.04Upgrade linux-image-7.0.0-1015-raspi-realtimeUpgrade linux-image-generic-6.17Upgrade linux-image-nvidia-tegra-6.8Upgrade linux-image-7.0.0-1010-azureUpgrade linux-image-7.0.0-1009-azure-fdeUpgrade linux-image-7.0.0-1008-oracle-64kUpgrade linux-image-6.17.0-42-generic-64kUpgrade linux-image-oem-20.04bUpgrade linux-image-nvidia-lowlatency-6.8Upgrade linux-image-ibm-classicUpgrade linux-image-aws-64k-7.0Upgrade linux-image-6.8.0-136-lowlatencyUpgrade linux-image-generic-lpaeUpgrade linux-image-generic-64k-hwe-24.04Upgrade linux-image-intel-iotgUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1046-gkeopUpgrade linux-image-6.17.0-42-genericUpgrade linux-image-nvidia-64k-hwe-24.04Upgrade linux-image-7.0.0-2016-nvidia-bosUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1058-oracle-64kUpgrade linux-image-raspi-realtime-6.8Upgrade linux-image-lowlatency-hwe-22.04Upgrade linux-image-nvidia-tegra-rtUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1059-nvidia-lowlatencyUpgrade linux-image-nvidia-lowlatency-64kUpgrade linux-image-nvidia-hwe-24.04Upgrade linux-image-gkeopUpgrade linux-image-generic-64kUpgrade linux-image-genericUpgrade linux-image-gcp-7.0Upgrade linux-image-gcp-6.8Upgrade linux-image-azure-fde-7.0Upgrade linux-image-azure-fdeUpgrade linux-image-aws-7.0Upgrade linux-image-7.0.0-28-genericUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1061-awsUpgrade linux-image-6.8.1-1056-realtimeUpgrade linux-image-nvidia-bos-7.0Upgrade linux-image-lowlatency-6.8Upgrade linux-image-lowlatencyUpgrade linux-image-gcp-64k-6.17Upgrade linux-image-aws-fipsUpgrade linux-image-7.0.0-1009-aws-64kUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-136-fipsUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1061-raspiUpgrade linux-image-oracle-64k-6.8Upgrade linux-image-nvidia-64k-7.0Upgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1059-nvidia-64kUpgrade linux-image-gke-hwe-26.04Upgrade linux-image-7.0.0-28-realtime-64kUpgrade linux-image-7.0.0-2016-nvidia-bos-64kUpgrade linux-image-7.0.0-1010-ibmUpgrade linux-image-virtual-7.0Upgrade linux-image-virtualUpgrade linux-image-oracle-7.0Upgrade linux-image-oem-24.04bUpgrade linux-image-nvidia-bos-64k-7.0Upgrade linux-image-gkeop-6.8Upgrade linux-image-xilinx-zynqmpUpgrade linux-image-7.0.0-1009-awsUpgrade linux-image-6.17.0-1032-oemUpgrade linux-image-oracle-64k-7.0Upgrade linux-image-oracle-64k-6.17Upgrade linux-image-oracleUpgrade linux-image-oem-24.04Upgrade linux-image-oem-22.04Upgrade linux-image-nvidia | Jul 20, 2026 | May 28, 2026 |
| Vmware Photon_os | — | Use 'tdnf update' to upgrade all packages to the latest version. | Jun 10, 2026 | May 28, 2026 |
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