Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
arm64: entry: fix ARM64_WORKAROUND_SPECULATIVE_UNPRIV_LOAD
Currently the ARM64_WORKAROUND_SPECULATIVE_UNPRIV_LOAD workaround isn't
quite right, as it is supposed to be applied after the last explicit
memory access, but is immediately followed by an LDR.
The ARM64_WORKAROUND_SPECULATIVE_UNPRIV_LOAD workaround is used to
handle Cortex-A520 erratum 2966298 and Cortex-A510 erratum 3117295,
which are described in:
* https://developer.arm.com/documentation/SDEN2444153/0600/?lang=en
* https://developer.arm.com/documentation/SDEN1873361/1600/?lang=en
In both cases the workaround is described as:
| If pagetable isolation is disabled, the context switch logic in the
| kernel can be updated to execute the following sequence on affected
| cores before exiting to EL0, and after all explicit memory accesses:
|
| 1. A non-shareable TLBI to any context and/or address, including
| unused contexts or addresses, such as a `TLBI VALE1 Xzr`.
|
| 2. A DSB NSH to guarantee completion of the TLBI.
The important part being that the TLBI+DSB must be placed "after all
explicit memory accesses".
Unfortunately, as-implemented, the TLBI+DSB is immediately followed by
an LDR, as we have:
| alternative_if ARM64_WORKAROUND_SPECULATIVE_UNPRIV_LOAD
| tlbi vale1, xzr
| dsb nsh
| alternative_else_nop_endif
| alternative_if_not ARM64_UNMAP_KERNEL_AT_EL0
| ldr lr, [sp, #S_LR]
| add sp, sp, #PT_REGS_SIZE // restore sp
| eret
| alternative_else_nop_endif
|
| [ ... KPTI exception return path ... ]
This patch fixes this by reworking the logic to place the TLBI+DSB
immediately before the ERET, after all explicit memory accesses.
The ERET is currently in a separate alternative block, and alternatives
cannot be nested. To account for this, the alternative block for
ARM64_UNMAP_KERNEL_AT_EL0 is replaced with a single alternative branch
to skip the KPTI logic, with the new shape of the logic being:
| alternative_insn "b .L_skip_tramp_exit_\@", nop, ARM64_UNMAP_KERNEL_AT_EL0
| [ ... KPTI exception return path ... ]
| .L_skip_tramp_exit_\@:
|
| ldr lr, [sp, #S_LR]
| add sp, sp, #PT_REGS_SIZE // restore sp
|
| alternative_if ARM64_WORKAROUND_SPECULATIVE_UNPRIV_LOAD
| tlbi vale1, xzr
| dsb nsh
| alternative_else_nop_endif
| eret
The new structure means that the workaround is only applied when KPTI is
not in use; this is fine as noted in the documented implications of the
erratum:
| Pagetable isolation between EL0 and higher level ELs prevents the
| issue from occurring.
... and as per the workaround description quoted above, the workaround
is only necessary "If pagetable isolation is disabled".
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 6.1.57 – < 6.1.191, 6.5.7 – < 6.6, 6.6 | 6.1.191 |
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 | 6.6.15-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 6.6.15-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | No fix yet | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure-6.5 | 6.5.0-1022.23~22.04.1 | USN-6819-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gcp-6.5 | 6.5.0-1022.24~22.04.1 | USN-6818-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-hwe-6.5 | 6.5.0-41.41~22.04.2 | USN-6818-4 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5 | 6.5.0-41.41.1~22.04.1 | USN-6818-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-6.5 | 6.5.0-1021.22 | USN-6818-3 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-oem-6.5 | 6.5.0-1024.25 | USN-6819-3 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-oracle-6.5 | 6.5.0-1024.24~22.04.1 | USN-6819-4 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +23 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv-6.5 | 6.5.0-40.40.1~22.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-starfive-6.5 | 6.5.0-1015.16~22.04.1 | USN-6819-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +26 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +13 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe-edge | No fix yet | — |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-raspi-realtime | 6.8.0-2001.1 | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 9 | bpftool | 7.4.0-503.11.1.el9_5 | RHSA-2024:9315 |
| RHEL 9 | rv +67 | 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5 | RHSA-2024:9315 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP5 | kernel-64kb +6 | 5.14.21-150500.55.59.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1480-1 |
| SLES 15 SP5 | kernel-azure +2 | 5.14.21-150500.33.48.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1490-1 |
| SLES 15 SP5 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150500.55.59.1.150500.6.25.7 | SUSE-SU-2024:1480-1 |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLE Micro 5.5 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150500.55.59.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1480-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.5 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150500.55.59.1.150500.6.25.7 | SUSE-SU-2024:1480-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.5 | kernel-rt +1 | 5.14.21-150500.13.47.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1466-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP5 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150500.55.59.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1480-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP5 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP5-RT_Update_13 | 1-150500.11.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1466-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP5 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP5_Update_12 | 1-150500.11.7.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1480-1 |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP5 | kernel-rt +3 | 5.14.21-150500.13.47.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1466-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | dtb-aarch64 +10 | 5.14.21-150500.55.59.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1480-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | kernel-azure +2 | 5.14.21-150500.33.48.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1490-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150500.55.59.1.150500.6.25.7 | SUSE-SU-2024:1480-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | kernel-rt +3 | 5.14.21-150500.13.47.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1466-1 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 9 | bpftool | 7.4.0-503.11.1.el9_5 | ELSA-2024-9315 |
| Oracle Linux 9 | rv +28 | 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5 | ELSA-2024-9315 |
Advisories 12
- RHSA-2024:9315 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Nov 13, 2026
- USN-6819-4 linux-oracle-6.5 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 3, 2026
- USN-6818-3 linux-nvidia-6.5 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 3, 2026
- USN-6818-1 linux, linux-gcp, linux-gcp-6.5, linux-lowlatency, linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5, linux-raspi vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 3, 2026
- USN-6819-3 linux-oem-6.5 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 3, 2026
- USN-6818-4 linux-hwe-6.5 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 3, 2026
- USN-6819-1 linux-azure, linux-azure-6.5, linux-starfive, linux-starfive-6.5 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 3, 2026
- WID-SEC-2024-0749 Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Oct 18, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:1480-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:1490-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:1466-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- ELSA-2024-9315 Moderate: kernel security update (Oracle Linux 9) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Nov 14, 2024