Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
KVM: x86: Forcibly leave nested virt when SMM state is toggled
Forcibly leave nested virtualization operation if userspace toggles SMM
state via KVM_SET_VCPU_EVENTS or KVM_SYNC_X86_EVENTS. If userspace
forces the vCPU out of SMM while it's post-VMXON and then injects an SMI,
vmx_enter_smm() will overwrite vmx->nested.smm.vmxon and end up with both
vmxon=false and smm.vmxon=false, but all other nVMX state allocated.
Don't attempt to gracefully handle the transition as (a) most transitions
are nonsencial, e.g. forcing SMM while L2 is running, (b) there isn't
sufficient information to handle all transitions, e.g. SVM wants access
to the SMRAM save state, and (c) KVM_SET_VCPU_EVENTS must precede
KVM_SET_NESTED_STATE during state restore as the latter disallows putting
the vCPU into L2 if SMM is active, and disallows tagging the vCPU as
being post-VMXON in SMM if SMM is not active.
Abuse of KVM_SET_VCPU_EVENTS manifests as a WARN and memory leak in nVMX
due to failure to free vmcs01's shadow VMCS, but the bug goes far beyond
just a memory leak, e.g. toggling SMM on while L2 is active puts the vCPU
in an architecturally impossible state.
WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 3606 at free_loaded_vmcs arch/x86/kvm/vmx/vmx.c:2665 [inline]
WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 3606 at free_loaded_vmcs+0x158/0x1a0 arch/x86/kvm/vmx/vmx.c:2656
Modules linked in:
CPU: 1 PID: 3606 Comm: syz-executor725 Not tainted 5.17.0-rc1-syzkaller #0
Hardware name: Google Google Compute Engine/Google Compute Engine, BIOS Google 01/01/2011
RIP: 0010:free_loaded_vmcs arch/x86/kvm/vmx/vmx.c:2665 [inline]
RIP: 0010:free_loaded_vmcs+0x158/0x1a0 arch/x86/kvm/vmx/vmx.c:2656
Code: <0f> 0b eb b3 e8 8f 4d 9f 00 e9 f7 fe ff ff 48 89 df e8 92 4d 9f 00
Call Trace:
<TASK>
kvm_arch_vcpu_destroy+0x72/0x2f0 arch/x86/kvm/x86.c:11123
kvm_vcpu_destroy arch/x86/kvm/../../../virt/kvm/kvm_main.c:441 [inline]
kvm_destroy_vcpus+0x11f/0x290 arch/x86/kvm/../../../virt/kvm/kvm_main.c:460
kvm_free_vcpus arch/x86/kvm/x86.c:11564 [inline]
kvm_arch_destroy_vm+0x2e8/0x470 arch/x86/kvm/x86.c:11676
kvm_destroy_vm arch/x86/kvm/../../../virt/kvm/kvm_main.c:1217 [inline]
kvm_put_kvm+0x4fa/0xb00 arch/x86/kvm/../../../virt/kvm/kvm_main.c:1250
kvm_vm_release+0x3f/0x50 arch/x86/kvm/../../../virt/kvm/kvm_main.c:1273
__fput+0x286/0x9f0 fs/file_table.c:311
task_work_run+0xdd/0x1a0 kernel/task_work.c:164
exit_task_work include/linux/task_work.h:32 [inline]
do_exit+0xb29/0x2a30 kernel/exit.c:806
do_group_exit+0xd2/0x2f0 kernel/exit.c:935
get_signal+0x4b0/0x28c0 kernel/signal.c:2862
arch_do_signal_or_restart+0x2a9/0x1c40 arch/x86/kernel/signal.c:868
handle_signal_work kernel/entry/common.c:148 [inline]
exit_to_user_mode_loop kernel/entry/common.c:172 [inline]
exit_to_user_mode_prepare+0x17d/0x290 kernel/entry/common.c:207
__syscall_exit_to_user_mode_work kernel/entry/common.c:289 [inline]
syscall_exit_to_user_mode+0x19/0x60 kernel/entry/common.c:300
do_syscall_64+0x42/0xb0 arch/x86/entry/common.c:86
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x44/0xae
</TASK>
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 4.15 | 5.10.97 |
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | linux | 5.16.7-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 5.16.7-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 5.16.7-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-raspi-realtime | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +22 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +27 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +14 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe-edge | No fix yet | — |
Show 8 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS 20.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS 18.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 18.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux +10 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | linux +12 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | linux-gcp +4 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | linux-azure | No fix yet | — |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP5 | kernel-64kb +5 | 5.14.21-150500.55.73.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2939-1 |
| SLES 15 SP5 | kernel-azure +2 | 5.14.21-150500.33.60.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2372-1 |
| SLES 15 SP5 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150500.55.73.1.150500.6.33.8 | SUSE-SU-2024:2939-1 |
| SLES 15 SP5 | kernel-docs | 5.14.21-150500.55.73.2 | SUSE-SU-2024:2939-1 |
| SLES 15 SP4 | kernel-64kb +6 | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SLES 15 SP4 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1.150400.24.62.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
Show 10 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 15 SP4 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1.150400.24.62.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP4 | kernel-docs +4 | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.5 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150500.55.73.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2939-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.5 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150500.55.73.1.150500.6.33.8 | SUSE-SU-2024:2939-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.5 | kernel-rt +1 | 5.14.21-150500.13.61.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2394-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.4 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.4 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1.150400.24.62.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.4 | kernel-rt +1 | 5.14.21-150400.15.88.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2902-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.3 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.3 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1.150400.24.62.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.3 | kernel-rt +1 | 5.14.21-150400.15.88.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2902-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP5 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150500.55.73.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2939-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP5 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP5_Update_17 +1 | 1-150500.11.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2939-1, SUSE-SU-2024:2394-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP4 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP4 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP4_Update_29 | 1-150400.9.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP4 | kernel-64kb +5 | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP4 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1.150400.24.62.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP5 | kernel-rt +3 | 5.14.21-150500.13.61.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2394-1 |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.3 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1.150400.24.62.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.3 | kernel-syms +3 | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.3 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1.150400.24.62.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.3 | kernel-syms +2 | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | dtb-aarch64 +9 | 5.14.21-150500.55.73.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2939-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | kernel-azure +2 | 5.14.21-150500.33.60.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2372-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150500.55.73.1.150500.6.33.8 | SUSE-SU-2024:2939-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | kernel-docs | 5.14.21-150500.55.73.2 | SUSE-SU-2024:2939-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | kernel-rt +3 | 5.14.21-150500.13.61.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2394-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Leap Micro 5.5 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150500.55.73.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2939-1 |
| openSUSE Leap Micro 5.5 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150500.55.73.1.150500.6.33.8 | SUSE-SU-2024:2939-1 |
Advisories 6
- WID-SEC-2024-1422 Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen nicht spezifizierten Angriff BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Oct 29, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:2394-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:2939-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:2902-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:2372-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026