KVM: x86: Reset IRTE to host control if *new* route isn't postable
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 3 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-416 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: x86: Reset IRTE to host control if *new* route isn't postable Restore an IRTE back to host control (remapped or posted MSI mode) if the *new* GSI route prevents posting the IRQ directly to a vCPU, regardless of the GSI routing type. Updating the IRTE if and only if the new GSI is an MSI results in KVM leaving an IRTE posting to a vCPU. The dangling IRTE can result in interrupts being incorrectly delivered to the guest, and in the worst case scenario can result in use-after-free, e.g. if the VM is torn down, but the underlying host IRQ isn't freed.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 4.4 and later | 5.10.237, 5.15.181, 6.1.136, 6.6.89, 6.12.26, 6.14.5, 6.15 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 4.4 and later Fixed in 5.10.237, 5.15.181, 6.1.136, 6.6.89, 6.12.26, 6.14.5, 6.15 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 5
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.4 to before 5.10.237; 5.11 to before 5.15.181; 5.16 to before 6.1.136; 6.2 to before 6.6.89; 6.7 to before 6.12.26; 6.13 to before 6.14.5 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.15 rc1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.15 rc2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.15 rc3 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.4 to before 5.10.237; 5.11 to before 5.15.181; 5.16 to before 6.1.136; 6.2 to before 6.6.89; 6.7 to before 6.12.26; 6.13 to before 6.14.5 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.15 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.15 rc2 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.15 rc3 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.237, 5.15.181, 6.1.136, 6.6.89, 6.12.26, 6.14.5, 6.15
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-37885
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-jrv2-7qh6-cgcr
- 2026-10-16 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-16 Priority changed: LOW → MEDIUM
References
Patch 7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e5f2dee9f7fcd2ff4b97869f3c66a0d89c167769
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/116c7d35b8f72eac383b9fd371d7c1a8ffc2968b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/023816bd5fa46fab94d1e7917fe131b79ed1fb41
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3481fd96d801715942b6f69fe251133128156f30
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b5de7ac74f69603ad803c524b840bffd36368fc3
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3066ec21d1a33896125747f68638725f456308db
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9bcac97dc42d2f4da8229d18feb0fe2b1ce523a2
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- TI-2013-01864 The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2021-05514 Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.3
Sources
- CVE-2025-37885 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-37885 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-jrv2-7qh6-cgcr · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2025-37885 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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