CVE-2026-79608

x86/AMD: ineffectual Zenbleed workaround

Published Oct 13, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 9.8 Critical EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
The workaround for XSA-433 (Zenbleed, CVE-2023-20593) was later
re-worked to better integrate with other manipulations of the same MSR.
In this rework an inverted conditional was introduced, resulting in the
workaround to not be applied when needed and vice versa.

For more details, see:
http://xenbits.xen.org/xsa/advisory-433.html

Remediation

Vendor Workaround

This issue can be mitigated by disabling AVX, either by booting Xen with `cpuid=no-avx` on the command line, or by specifying `cpuid="host:avx=0"` in the vm.cfg file of all untrusted VMs. However, this will come with a significant impact on the system and is not recommended for anyone able to deploy the microcode or patch described below.

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6571-1 xen security update
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-730
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-670
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 9.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Xen
Xen xen
Vendors & Products Xen
Xen xen
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-730
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description The workaround for XSA-433 (Zenbleed, CVE-2023-20593) was later re-worked to better integrate with other manipulations of the same MSR. In this rework an inverted conditional was introduced, resulting in the workaround to not be applied when needed and vice versa. For more details, see: http://xenbits.xen.org/xsa/advisory-433.html
Title x86/AMD: ineffectual Zenbleed workaround
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
XEN
Published
Updated
Oct 20, 2026, 5:36 PM
Reserved
Aug 25, 2026, 7:35 AM
Status
Awaiting Analysis
Published
Oct 13, 2026, 4:17 PM
Modified
Oct 20, 2026, 6:17 PM