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CVE-2026-97478

Linux: virt: acrn: Fix irqfd use-after-free during eventfd shutdown

Linux LinuxOperating systems
CVSS
7.8High
ExploitationNo known exploitationNot in CISA KEV, which does not prove it is unexploitedCISA KEV
Exploit odds (EPSS)0.13%Chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 2% of CVEs. Scored 23 Oct 2026FIRST EPSS
Fixed in6e9e007ee1dfb54bc2d070550308077ec28dbaecAlso 0e1152f689847b9db2f05454775d34610c1424c2, 666c7f9e07925aa0863348f960e09bb89f8f05a3CVE List
Published24 Sep 2026Updated 21 Oct 2026CVE List

What fixes it

  • 6e9e007ee1dfb54bc2d070550308077ec28dbaecLinuxCVE List
  • 0e1152f689847b9db2f05454775d34610c1424c2LinuxCVE List
  • 666c7f9e07925aa0863348f960e09bb89f8f05a3LinuxCVE List

A fixed version on one release line is not the upgrade target for every line. Check your exact version and any vendor backports.

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

virt: acrn: Fix irqfd use-after-free during eventfd shutdown

acrn_irqfd_deassign() and the eventfd EPOLLHUP wakeup can race and free the same struct hsm_irqfd:

CPU0 CPU1 ---- ---- eventfd_release() wake_up_poll(EPOLLHUP) hsm_irqfd_wakeup() queue_work(&irqfd->shutdown) acrn_irqfd_deassign() hsm_irqfd_shutdown() list_del_init() eventfd_ctx_remove_wait_queue() eventfd_ctx_put() kfree(irqfd) hsm_irqfd_shutdown_work() container_of(work, ..., shutdown) irqfd->vm <-- use-after-free

The deassign path freed the irqfd while a shutdown work item was already queued by EPOLLHUP (or vice versa), so the work item could resurrect a dangling pointer through container_of().

Switch to the lifetime model used by KVM irqfds:

  • Deassign/deinit only deactivate the irqfd: remove it from vm->irqfds

under irqfds_lock and queue the cleanup work.

  • hsm_irqfd_shutdown_work() becomes the sole owner that unhooks the

eventfd waitqueue entry, drops the eventfd reference and frees the irqfd.

  • A new HSM_IRQFD_FLAG_SHUTDOWN bit guarded by test_and_set_bit()

ensures the cleanup work is queued at most once, no matter how many of {EPOLLHUP, deassign, deinit} fire concurrently. This is safe to call from the waitqueue callback, which runs with wqh->lock held and IRQs disabled and therefore cannot take irqfds_lock.

  • acrn_irqfd_deassign() flushes vm->irqfd_wq before returning so the

eventfd is fully detached on return. acrn_irqfd_deinit() deactivates every irqfd, flushes the workqueue and only then destroys it, so no path can queue_work() onto a torn-down workqueue.

  • acrn_irqfd_assign() now installs the eventfd waitqueue entry and

publishes the irqfd to vm->irqfds under irqfds_lock, so the irqfd is never visible to deassign/deinit before its waitqueue entry is in place, and any EPOLLHUP that fires in the assign window queues cleanup work that blocks on irqfds_lock until publication is done.

Text from CVE List

Affected versions 10

  • Linuxaffected: aa3b483ff1d71c50b33db154048dff9a8f08ac71 before 6e9e007ee1dfb54bc2d070550308077ec28dbaecCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: aa3b483ff1d71c50b33db154048dff9a8f08ac71 before 0e1152f689847b9db2f05454775d34610c1424c2CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: aa3b483ff1d71c50b33db154048dff9a8f08ac71 before d8156aacfcabb81f52c20ef89094945434d08079CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: aa3b483ff1d71c50b33db154048dff9a8f08ac71 before 666c7f9e07925aa0863348f960e09bb89f8f05a3CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 5.12CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: all versions before 5.12CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.6.160 through 6.6.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.12.114 through 6.12.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.18.53 through 6.18.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 7.2CVE List

References 4