Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
x86/sev: Use TSC_FACTOR for Secure TSC frequency calculation
When using Secure TSC, the GUEST_TSC_FREQ MSR reports a frequency based on
the nominal P0 frequency, which deviates slightly (typically ~0.2%) from
the actual mean TSC frequency due to clocking parameters.
Over extended VM uptime, this discrepancy accumulates, causing clock skew
between the hypervisor and a SEV-SNP VM, leading to early timer interrupts as
perceived by the guest.
The guest kernel relies on the reported nominal frequency for TSC-based
timekeeping, while the actual frequency set during SNP_LAUNCH_START may
differ. This mismatch results in inaccurate time calculations, causing the
guest to perceive hrtimers as firing earlier than expected.
Utilize the TSC_FACTOR from the SEV firmware's secrets page (see "Secrets
Page Format" in the SNP Firmware ABI Specification) to calculate the mean
TSC frequency, ensuring accurate timekeeping and mitigating clock skew in
SEV-SNP VMs.
Use early_ioremap_encrypted() to map the secrets page as
ioremap_encrypted() uses kmalloc() which is not available during early TSC
initialization and causes a panic.
[ bp: Drop the silly dummy var:
https://lore.kernel.org/r/20250630192726.GBaGLlHl84xIopx4Pt@fat_crate.local ]
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 6.14 | 6.15.7 |
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.
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 25.10 | linux-azure-fde | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-aws-6.14 +2 | 6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1 | USN-7934-1, USN-7879-3 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gcp-6.14 | 6.14.0-1020.21~24.04.1 | USN-7879-4 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-hwe-6.14 | 6.14.0-36.36~24.04.1 | USN-7879-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-intel +10 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-oem-6.14 | 6.14.0-1016.16 | USN-7880-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-riscv-6.14 | 6.14.0-36.36.1~24.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +32 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +28 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +14 | No fix yet | — |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe-edge | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-realtime-6.14 | 6.14.0-1016.16~24.04.1 | USN-7879-2 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 16.0 | kernel-64kb +7 | 6.12.0-160000.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:21139-1 |
| SLES for SAP 16.0 | kernel-default-base | 6.12.0-160000.6.1.160000.2.4 | SUSE-SU-2025:21139-1 |
| SLES 16.0 | kernel-64kb +7 | 6.12.0-160000.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:21179-1, SUSE-SU-2025:21139-1 |
| SLES 16.0 | kernel-default-base | 6.12.0-160000.6.1.160000.2.4 | SUSE-SU-2025:21139-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.2 | kernel-default-base | 6.12.0-160000.6.1.160000.2.4 | SUSE-SU-2025:21074-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.2 | kernel-rt +5 | 6.12.0-160000.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:20560-1, SUSE-SU-2025:21074-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Leap 16.0 | kernel-default-base | 6.12.0-160000.6.1.160000.2.4 | openSUSE-SU-2025:20081-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 16.0 | kernel-rt +10 | 6.12.0-160000.6.1 | openSUSE-SU-2025:20081-1 |
Advisories 12
- WID-SEC-2025-1858 Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Nov 10, 2026
- USN-7934-1 linux-azure, linux-azure-6.14 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 3, 2026
- USN-7879-4 linux-gcp-6.14, linux-raspi vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 3, 2026
- USN-7879-3 linux-aws-6.14, linux-oracle-6.14 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 3, 2026
- USN-7880-1 linux-oem-6.14 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 3, 2026
- USN-7879-2 linux-realtime-6.14 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 3, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:20560-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 9, 2026
- USN-7879-1 linux, linux-aws, linux-gcp, linux-hwe-6.14, linux-oracle, linux-realtime vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 3, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2025:20081-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Mar 23, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:21179-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Mar 23, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:21139-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Mar 23, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:21074-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Mar 23, 2026