CVE-2026-97993

vhost-vdpa: don't install the eventfd_ctx_fdget() error in config_ctx

Published Sep 25, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 5.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

vhost-vdpa: don't install the eventfd_ctx_fdget() error in config_ctx

vhost_vdpa_set_config_call() swaps the eventfd_ctx_fdget() return value
into v->config_ctx before checking it, so on failure the field briefly
holds an ERR_PTR:

ctx = fd == VHOST_FILE_UNBIND ? NULL : eventfd_ctx_fdget(fd);
swap(ctx, v->config_ctx);

if (!IS_ERR_OR_NULL(ctx))
eventfd_ctx_put(ctx);

if (IS_ERR(v->config_ctx)) {
long ret = PTR_ERR(v->config_ctx);

v->config_ctx = NULL;
return ret;
}

Commit 0bde59c1723a ("vhost-vdpa: set v->config_ctx to NULL if
eventfd_ctx_fdget() fails") added that clearing, and spelled out the
invariant the rest of the file relies on: "we consider 'v->config_ctx'
valid if it is not NULL". The window between the swap and the clearing
still breaks it. vhost_vdpa_config_cb() only tests for NULL, so a config
interrupt delivered inside the window hands the ERR_PTR to
eventfd_signal().

Check the fd before installing it instead. That closes the window and
matches how vhost_vring_ioctl() handles the same failure for the vq call
fd.

It also stops a rejected fd from tearing down a config interrupt that was
working: until now the swap replaced the live context and put it, so
after an EBADF the device silently stopped delivering config interrupts
until userspace installed a new fd.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4817-1 linux-6.12 security update
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4841-1 linux security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6528-1 linux security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8961-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9019-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9020-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9022-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9023-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9024-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9025-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9026-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9029-1 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9039-1 Linux kernel (Azure CVM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9040-1 Linux kernel (Low Latency NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9066-1 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9091-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA Tegra) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-795
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-366
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Low

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-795
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: vhost-vdpa: don't install the eventfd_ctx_fdget() error in config_ctx vhost_vdpa_set_config_call() swaps the eventfd_ctx_fdget() return value into v->config_ctx before checking it, so on failure the field briefly holds an ERR_PTR: ctx = fd == VHOST_FILE_UNBIND ? NULL : eventfd_ctx_fdget(fd); swap(ctx, v->config_ctx); if (!IS_ERR_OR_NULL(ctx)) eventfd_ctx_put(ctx); if (IS_ERR(v->config_ctx)) { long ret = PTR_ERR(v->config_ctx); v->config_ctx = NULL; return ret; } Commit 0bde59c1723a ("vhost-vdpa: set v->config_ctx to NULL if eventfd_ctx_fdget() fails") added that clearing, and spelled out the invariant the rest of the file relies on: "we consider 'v->config_ctx' valid if it is not NULL". The window between the swap and the clearing still breaks it. vhost_vdpa_config_cb() only tests for NULL, so a config interrupt delivered inside the window hands the ERR_PTR to eventfd_signal(). Check the fd before installing it instead. That closes the window and matches how vhost_vring_ioctl() handles the same failure for the vq call fd. It also stops a rejected fd from tearing down a config interrupt that was working: until now the swap replaced the live context and put it, so after an EBADF the device silently stopped delivering config interrupts until userspace installed a new fd.
Title vhost-vdpa: don't install the eventfd_ctx_fdget() error in config_ctx
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Oct 19, 2026, 9:12 AM
Reserved
Sep 25, 2026, 10:18 AM
Status
Received
Published
Sep 25, 2026, 11:17 AM
Modified
Oct 19, 2026, 10:17 AM
Severity
Low
Public date
Sep 25, 2026, 12:00 AM