Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
KVM: SEV: Nullify "have run CPUs" mask pointer when freeing it
Nullify have_run_cpus when freeing the mask, particularly in the error path
of __sev_guest_init(), so that KVM doesn't have to subtly use sev->active
to track whether or not the mask has been freed. As pointed out by Sashiko,
blindly freeing the mask in sev_vm_destroy() results in a double-free if
the mask is freed if __sev_guest_init() fails.
Throw the logic in a helper as nullifying the pointer is frustratingly
difficult and weird due to have_run_cpus being a single-entry array when
CPUMASK_OFFSTACK=n. Deliberately don't use CPUMASK_VAR_NULL, as it's not
directly assignable when the cpumask is on-stack, e.g. requires using a
local variable and a memcpy(), which is beyond ridiculous. Furthermore,
while clearing the on-stack bitmask is an unnecessary and arguably unwanted
side effect, KVM absolutely relies on '0' being the "null" value given that
the struct is zero-allocated.
Opportunistically add an alloc() helper to pair with free(); there are just
enough call sites to make doing so worthwhile.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 6.18.55 – < 6.18.56, 7.2.9 – < 7.2.10 | 6.18.56 |
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 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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-gcp | 7.0.0-1017.19 | USN-9018-1 |
| 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-riscv | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-hwe-7.0 | 7.0.0-43.43~24.04.1 | USN-9018-2 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-riscv +25 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-riscv-7.0 | 7.0.0-43.43.1~24.04.2 | — |
| 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 +1 | No fix yet | — |
Advisories 4
- USN-9018-2 linux-hwe-7.0 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 12, 2026
- WID-SEC-2026-4019 Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · 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