CVE-2026-98718

KVM: SEV: Do cache maintenance on the source VM *before* clearing SEV state

Published Oct 18, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.5 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

KVM: SEV: Do cache maintenance on the source VM *before* clearing SEV state

Explicitly flush caches after intra-host migration before clearing "SEV
active" on the source VM, as doing cache maintenance afterwards creates a
tiny window where memory reclaim could return memory to the host without
performing a cache flush, e.g. as pointed out by Sashiko:

CPU1 in sev_migrate_from():
src->active = false;

CPU2 running concurrent unmap:
Since active is false, the automatic cache flush in
sev_guest_memory_reclaimed is skipped.
The host frees and reallocates the page.

CPU1 in sev_migrate_from():
sev_writeback_caches(src_kvm);
Executes a hardware cache flush (wbnoinvd), which writes the guest's old
dirty ciphertext over the new page owner's data.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9018-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9018-2 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9019-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-200
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-366
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:H'}

threat_severity

Important

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-200
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: SEV: Do cache maintenance on the source VM *before* clearing SEV state Explicitly flush caches after intra-host migration before clearing "SEV active" on the source VM, as doing cache maintenance afterwards creates a tiny window where memory reclaim could return memory to the host without performing a cache flush, e.g. as pointed out by Sashiko: CPU1 in sev_migrate_from(): src->active = false; CPU2 running concurrent unmap: Since active is false, the automatic cache flush in sev_guest_memory_reclaimed is skipped. The host frees and reallocates the page. CPU1 in sev_migrate_from(): sev_writeback_caches(src_kvm); Executes a hardware cache flush (wbnoinvd), which writes the guest's old dirty ciphertext over the new page owner's data.
Title KVM: SEV: Do cache maintenance on the source VM *before* clearing SEV state
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, 9:24 AM
Reserved
Sep 25, 2026, 10:25 AM
Status
Received
Published
Oct 18, 2026, 4:17 PM
Modified
Oct 19, 2026, 10:19 AM
Severity
Important
Public date
Oct 18, 2026, 12:00 AM