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CVE-2026-98718

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

Linux LinuxOperating systems
CVSS
NoneNot scored
ExploitationNo known exploitationNot in CISA KEV, which does not prove it is unexploitedCISA KEV
Exploit odds (EPSS)0.17%Chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 5% of CVEs. Scored 23 Oct 2026FIRST EPSS
Fixed in8b7d4f68fef96cebe0b6dbb6e5607772337f7369Also 973ea70393e885e540f714904e51bc6cac80e3d7, 6.18.56 and 1 moreCVE List
Published18 Oct 2026Updated 19 Oct 2026CVE List

What fixes it

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:

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.

Text from CVE List

Affected versions 5

  • Linuxaffected: 37dfb676fafd1eef36fe0bb649607afbb0d5521b before 8b7d4f68fef96cebe0b6dbb6e5607772337f7369CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: d4cc2dff12116a700add601c0262132cc26e1b2c before de83ff6a4d8f3618473bedb3c4400020c22e8a8aCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 93de2a6a4b91b72607136dd656edf03fb399d27f before 973ea70393e885e540f714904e51bc6cac80e3d7CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 6.18.55 before 6.18.56CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 7.2.9 before 7.2.10CVE List

References 3