CVE-2026-29644

Improper CSR Write Gating Enables Unauthorized PMA Modification in XiangShan RISC‑V Processor

Published Apr 21, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 5.3 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
XiangShan (open-source high-performance RISC-V processor) commit edb1dfaf7d290ae99724594507dc46c2c2125384 (2024-11-28) has improper gating of its distributed CSR write-enable path, allowing illegal CSR write attempts to alter custom PMA (Physical Memory Attribute) CSR state. Though the RISC-V privileged specification requires an illegal-instruction exception for non-existent/illegal CSR accesses, affected XiangShan versions may still propagate such writes to replicated PMA configuration state. Local attackers able to execute code on the core (privilege context depends on system integration) can exploit this to tamper with memory-attribute enforcement, potentially leading to privilege escalation, information disclosure, or denial of service depending on how PMA enforces platform security and isolation boundaries.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

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History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Title Improper CSR Write Gating Enables Unauthorized PMA Modification in XiangShan RISC‑V Processor
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-284
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L'}

ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Openxiangshan
Openxiangshan xiangshan
Vendors & Products Openxiangshan
Openxiangshan xiangshan
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description XiangShan (open-source high-performance RISC-V processor) commit edb1dfaf7d290ae99724594507dc46c2c2125384 (2024-11-28) has improper gating of its distributed CSR write-enable path, allowing illegal CSR write attempts to alter custom PMA (Physical Memory Attribute) CSR state. Though the RISC-V privileged specification requires an illegal-instruction exception for non-existent/illegal CSR accesses, affected XiangShan versions may still propagate such writes to replicated PMA configuration state. Local attackers able to execute code on the core (privilege context depends on system integration) can exploit this to tamper with memory-attribute enforcement, potentially leading to privilege escalation, information disclosure, or denial of service depending on how PMA enforces platform security and isolation boundaries.
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
mitre
Published
Updated
Apr 21, 2026, 5:59 PM
Reserved
Mar 4, 2026, 12:00 AM
Status
Deferred
Published
Apr 21, 2026, 3:16 PM
Modified
Jun 17, 2026, 10:29 AM