Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
KVM: x86/mmu: Bail from shadow walks if the root is invalid or a dummy
When walking shadow page tables, immediately terminate the walk if the root
is a "dummy" root, i.e. a root whose top-level page table is backed by the
zero page, but otherwise doesn't exist. If memslot creation races with a
stage-2 page fault (EPT violation or #NPF) from L2, then if the stars align,
KVM will attempt to walk shadow page tables using the zero page and hit a
NULL pointer deref.
BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000021
#PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode
#PF: error_code(0x0000) - not-present page
PGD 0 P4D 0
Oops: Oops: 0000 [#1] SMP
CPU: 30 UID: 1000 PID: 941 Comm: qemu Not tainted 7.2.0-rc2-1b731e5ded48-next-vm #1741 PREEMPTLAZY
Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009), BIOS 0.0.0 02/06/2015
RIP: 0010:__kvm_mmu_invalidate_addr+0xea/0x210 [kvm]
Call Trace:
<TASK>
kvm_mmu_invalidate_addr+0x92/0xe0 [kvm]
__kvm_inject_emulated_page_fault+0x67/0x80 [kvm]
ept_page_fault+0x160/0x850 [kvm]
kvm_mmu_do_page_fault+0x102/0x1f0 [kvm]
kvm_mmu_page_fault+0x8e/0x6b0 [kvm]
vmx_handle_exit+0x163/0x640 [kvm_intel]
kvm_arch_vcpu_ioctl_run+0x960/0x2120 [kvm]
kvm_vcpu_ioctl+0x2c7/0x970 [kvm]
__x64_sys_ioctl+0x90/0xd0
do_syscall_64+0x67/0x5f0
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x4b/0x53
RIP: 0033:0x7f606d0b53bb
Opportunistically harden the shadow walks against fully invalid roots, but
WARN, as all callers are expected/required to pre-check for a valid root.
Don't WARN in the dummy root case as the whole point of using a dummy root
is to provide a root that's valid enough to enter the guest, i.e. it should
Just Work for all flows except those that *need* to know about dummy roots.
Alternatively, KVM could allocate a dedicated page and associated shadow
page structure for the dummy root, which is very tempting as it such an
approach should be more resilient against unexpected behavior. But that
would be a much larger and thus riskier change than simply terminating
walks of dummy roots.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 6.6 | 6.6.160 |
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 | 7.2.10-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 6.12.113-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux-6.12 | 6.12.113-1~deb12u1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Nvidia-BlueField 24.04 LTS | linux-bluefield | 6.8.0-1036.41 | — |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux | 7.0.0-43.43 | USN-9018-1 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-aws | 7.0.0-1017.18 | USN-9018-1 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-azure | 7.0.0-1020.21 | USN-9019-1 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde | 7.0.0-1019.19 | USN-9020-1 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 7.0.0-1017.19 | USN-9018-1 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-gke | 7.0.0-1010.11 | USN-9020-1 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-ibm +1 | 7.0.0-1018.18 | USN-9018-1 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 7.0.0-1016.18 | USN-9018-1 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-raspi | 7.0.0-1023.23 | USN-9021-1 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-realtime | 7.0.0-43.43.1 | USN-9020-1 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-riscv +2 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux | 6.8.0-149.149 | USN-9022-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-aws | 6.8.0-1069.74 | USN-9022-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-aws-7.0 | 7.0.0-1017.18~24.04.1 | USN-9020-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-azure | 6.8.0-1073.82 | USN-9022-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde | 6.8.0-1071.78 | USN-9039-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde-7.0 | 7.0.0-1019.19~24.04.1 | USN-9020-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 6.8.0-1073.81 | USN-9022-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gcp-7.0 | 7.0.0-1017.19~24.04.1 | USN-9020-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gke | 6.8.0-1068.77 | USN-9022-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gkeop | 6.8.0-1053.57 | USN-9023-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-hwe-7.0 | 7.0.0-43.43~24.04.1 | USN-9018-2 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-ibm | 6.8.0-1069.70 | USN-9022-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency | 6.8.0-149.149.1 | USN-9022-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia | 6.8.0-1067.70 | USN-9024-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-lowlatency | 6.8.0-1067.70.1 | USN-9040-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 6.8.0-1067.71 | USN-9022-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-oracle-7.0 | 7.0.0-1016.18~24.04.1 | USN-9020-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-raspi | 6.8.0-1068.72 | USN-9025-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-riscv +32 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-riscv-7.0 | 7.0.0-43.43.1~24.04.2 | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-vmware | 6.8.0-1010.10 | USN-9022-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-aws-6.8 | 6.8.0-1069.74~22.04.1 | USN-9024-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure-6.8 | 6.8.0-1073.82~22.04.1 | USN-9026-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.8 | 6.8.0-1071.78~22.04.1 | USN-9026-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gcp-6.8 | 6.8.0-1073.81~22.04.1 | USN-9024-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-149.149~22.04.1 | USN-9066-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-ibm-6.8 | 6.8.0-1069.70~22.04.1 | USN-9024-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-149.149.1~22.04.1 | USN-9024-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-oracle-6.8 | 6.8.0-1067.71~22.04.1 | USN-9025-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +33 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv-6.8 | 6.8.0-149.149~22.04.2 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +28 | No fix yet | — |
Show 5 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +14 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe-edge | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-raspi-realtime | 6.8.0-2056.58 | USN-9025-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-realtime | 6.8.1-1064.65 | USN-9023-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-realtime-6.14 +1 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS | linux-realtime-6.8 | 6.8.1-1064.65~22.04.1 | USN-9024-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-aws-fips | 6.8.0-1069.74+fips1 | USN-9023-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-azure-fips | 6.8.0-1073.82+fips1 | USN-9022-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-fips | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-gcp-fips | 6.8.0-1073.81+fips1 | USN-9023-1 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP7 | kernel-64kb +7 | 6.4.0-150700.53.90.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:5091-1 |
| SLES 15 SP7 | kernel-default-base | 6.4.0-150700.53.90.1.150700.17.51.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:5091-1 |
Show 6 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 16.0 | kernel-64kb +8 | 6.12.0-160000.41.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:24662-1 |
| SLES for SAP 16.0 | kernel-default-base | 6.12.0-160000.41.1.160000.2.32 | SUSE-SU-2026:24662-1 |
| SLES 16.0 | kernel-64kb +8 | 6.12.0-160000.41.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:24662-1, SUSE-SU-2026:24651-1 |
| SLES 16.0 | kernel-default-base | 6.12.0-160000.41.1.160000.2.32 | SUSE-SU-2026:24662-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.2 | kernel-default-base | 6.12.0-160000.41.1.160000.2.32 | SUSE-SU-2026:24643-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.2 | kernel-rt +5 | 6.12.0-160000.41.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:24648-1, SUSE-SU-2026:24643-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.1 | kernel-default-base | 6.4.0-159998.55.1.159998.21.41 | SUSE-SU-2026:24619-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.1 | kernel-source +2 | 6.4.0-159998.55.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:24619-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.0 | kernel-default-base | 6.4.0-159998.55.1.159998.21.42 | SUSE-SU-2026:24550-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.0 | kernel-source +2 | 6.4.0-159998.55.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:24550-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP7 | kernel-default | 6.4.0-150700.53.90.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:5091-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP7 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP7_Update_24 | 1-150700.15.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:5091-1 |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2023 | kernel-livepatch-6.18.56-125.164 +1 | 1:1.0-0.amzn2023 | ALAS2023-2026-3335, ALAS2023-2026-3251 |
| Amazon Linux 2023 | perf6.12 +11 | 1:6.12.113-138.209.amzn2023 | ALAS2023-2026-3335 |
| Amazon Linux 2023 | perf6.18 +12 | 1:6.18.56-125.164.amzn2023 | ALAS2023-2026-3251 |
Azure Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Linux 3 | kernel | 6.6.161.1-1 | — |
Advisories 23
- USN-9066-1 linux-hwe-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-9018-2 linux-hwe-7.0 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-9021-1 linux-raspi vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-9022-1 linux, linux-aws, linux-azure, linux-azure-fips, linux-gcp, linux-gke, linux-ibm, linux-lowlatency, linux-oracle, linux-vmware vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-9024-1 linux-aws-6.8, linux-gcp-6.8, linux-ibm-6.8, linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8, linux-nvidia, linux-realtime-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-9026-1 linux-azure-6.8, linux-azure-fde-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-9039-1 linux-azure-fde vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- WID-SEC-2026-4019 Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-9040-1 linux-nvidia-lowlatency vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-9020-1 linux-aws-7.0, linux-azure-fde, linux-azure-fde-7.0, linux-gcp-7.0, linux-gke, linux-oracle-7.0, linux-realtime vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-9025-1 linux-oracle-6.8, linux-raspi, linux-raspi-realtime vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-9023-1 linux-aws-fips, linux-gcp-fips, linux-gkeop, linux-realtime vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:24662-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Nov 12, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:24651-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Nov 12, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:24643-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Nov 12, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:24648-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Nov 12, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:24619-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-9019-1 linux-azure vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-9018-1 linux, linux-aws, linux-gcp, linux-ibm, linux-oem-7.0, linux-oracle vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 11, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:24550-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Nov 6, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:5091-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Nov 4, 2026
- ALAS2023-2026-3335 Important: kernel6.12 security update (Amazon Linux 2023) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Nov 2, 2026
- ALAS2023-2026-3251 Important: kernel6.18 security update (Amazon Linux 2023) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Oct 26, 2026
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/951fce1510645ba5df38da6fb85ece5726ec347d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e1bcabc07efd029ab414894127411129ffdb8b48
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/97c1dcce17ef27853860c781f9912257e6adbf7c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/681e31f03ec9219099a66a0f6e1bc48e1b5aa914
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b6249c1d5665098c8bf12f8d3e4712bf04c775bc