CVE-2026-98472

KVM: SEV: Free have_run_cpus during VM destruction even if VM is no longer SEV

Published Oct 18, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 3.3 Low EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

KVM: SEV: Free have_run_cpus during VM destruction even if VM is no longer SEV

Unconditionally free SEV's "have run CPUs" cpumask in the VM destroy path,
i.e. even for what appear to be non-SEV VMs, as an SEV VM becomes a non-SEV
VM if its state is intra-host migrated. Alternatively, the mask could be
freed in sev_migrate_from() when "converting" the source VM, but that gets
annoying because ideally KVM would nullify the mask to guard against UAF,
and nullifying the mask would need be conditioned on CPUMASK_OFFSTACK=y.

Freeing the mask during sev_migrate_from() is also not robust against other
KVM bugs, though that's kind of a moot point since any such bugs would show
up even if sev->active is never set. I.e. KVM must get that side of things
correct. But, that's not a great reason to add more code just to make
things marginally less robust.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9019-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9020-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-416
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-772
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 3.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L'}

threat_severity

Low

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-416
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: SEV: Free have_run_cpus during VM destruction even if VM is no longer SEV Unconditionally free SEV's "have run CPUs" cpumask in the VM destroy path, i.e. even for what appear to be non-SEV VMs, as an SEV VM becomes a non-SEV VM if its state is intra-host migrated. Alternatively, the mask could be freed in sev_migrate_from() when "converting" the source VM, but that gets annoying because ideally KVM would nullify the mask to guard against UAF, and nullifying the mask would need be conditioned on CPUMASK_OFFSTACK=y. Freeing the mask during sev_migrate_from() is also not robust against other KVM bugs, though that's kind of a moot point since any such bugs would show up even if sev->active is never set. I.e. KVM must get that side of things correct. But, that's not a great reason to add more code just to make things marginally less robust.
Title KVM: SEV: Free have_run_cpus during VM destruction even if VM is no longer SEV
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, 9:20 AM
Reserved
Sep 25, 2026, 10:25 AM
Status
Received
Published
Oct 18, 2026, 4:16 PM
Modified
Oct 19, 2026, 10:18 AM
Severity
Low
Public date
Oct 18, 2026, 12:00 AM