iommu: disable SVA when CONFIG_X86 is set
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 33 fixed, 2 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: iommu: disable SVA when CONFIG_X86 is set Patch series "Fix stale IOTLB entries for kernel address space", v7. This proposes a fix for a security vulnerability related to IOMMU Shared Virtual Addressing (SVA). In an SVA context, an IOMMU can cache kernel page table entries. When a kernel page table page is freed and reallocated for another purpose, the IOMMU might still hold stale, incorrect entries. This can be exploited to cause a use-after-free or write-after-free condition, potentially leading to privilege escalation or data corruption. This solution introduces a deferred freeing mechanism for kernel page table pages, which provides a safe window to notify the IOMMU to invalidate its caches before the page is reused. This patch (of 8): In the IOMMU Shared Virtual Addressing (SVA) context, the IOMMU hardware shares and walks the CPU's page tables. The x86 architecture maps the kernel's virtual address space into the upper portion of every process's page table. Consequently, in an SVA context, the IOMMU hardware can walk and cache kernel page table entries. The Linux kernel currently lacks a notification mechanism for kernel page table changes, specifically when page table pages are freed and reused. The IOMMU driver is only notified of changes to user virtual address mappings. This can cause the IOMMU's internal caches to retain stale entries for kernel VA. Use-After-Free (UAF) and Write-After-Free (WAF) conditions arise when kernel page table pages are freed and later reallocated. The IOMMU could misinterpret the new data as valid page table entries. The IOMMU might then walk into attacker-controlled memory, leading to arbitrary physical memory DMA access or privilege escalation. This is also a Write-After-Free issue, as the IOMMU will potentially continue to write Accessed and Dirty bits to the freed memory while attempting to walk the stale page tables. Currently, SVA contexts are unprivileged and cannot access kernel mappings. However, the IOMMU will still walk kernel-only page tables all the way down to the leaf entries, where it realizes the mapping is for the kernel and errors out. This means the IOMMU still caches these intermediate page table entries, making the described vulnerability a real concern. Disable SVA on x86 architecture until the IOMMU can receive notification to flush the paging cache before freeing the CPU kernel page table pages.
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 | 5.2 and later | 5.10.273, 5.15.200, 6.1.163, 6.6.120, 6.12.64, 6.18.4, 6.19 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 5.2 and later Fixed in 5.10.273, 5.15.200, 6.1.163, 6.6.120, 6.12.64, 6.18.4, 6.19 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.2 to before 5.15.200; 5.16 to before 6.1.163; 6.2 to before 6.6.120; 6.7 to before 6.12.64; 6.13 to before 6.18.4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.2 to before 5.15.200; 5.16 to before 6.1.163; 6.2 to before 6.6.120; 6.7 to before 6.12.64; 6.13 to before 6.18.4 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.273, 5.15.200, 6.1.163, 6.6.120, 6.12.64, 6.18.4, 6.19
Red Hat 11 advisories
- RHSA-2026:55445 Released 2026-08-17 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 10.0) kernel-64k-debug-devel-6.12.0-55.98.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-6.12.0-55.98.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-devel-6.12.0-55.98.1.el10_0 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v. 10.0) kernel-6.12.0-55.98.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-6.12.0-55.98.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-core-6.12.0-55.98.1.el10_0 +28
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v. 10.0) kernel-tools-libs-devel-6.12.0-55.98.1.el10_0, libperf-6.12.0-55.98.1.el10_0
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v. 10.0) kernel-rt-6.12.0-55.98.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-64k-6.12.0-55.98.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-64k-core-6.12.0-55.98.1.el10_0 +21
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v. 10.0) kernel-rt-6.12.0-55.98.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-core-6.12.0-55.98.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-debug-6.12.0-55.98.1.el10_0 +11
- RHSA-2026:39083 Released 2026-07-14 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) bpftool-4.18.0-553.143.1.el8_10, kernel-4.18.0-553.143.1.el8_10, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-553.143.1.el8_10 +19
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-553.143.1.el8_10
- RHSA-2026:39082 Released 2026-07-14 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-rt security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-553.143.1.rt7.484.el8_10, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-553.143.1.rt7.484.el8_10, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-553.143.1.rt7.484.el8_10 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-553.143.1.rt7.484.el8_10, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-553.143.1.rt7.484.el8_10, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-553.143.1.rt7.484.el8_10 +7
Show 8 more Red Hat advisories
- RHSA-2026:26563 Released 2026-06-17 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.8.8) bpftool-4.18.0-477.147.1.el8_8, kernel-4.18.0-477.147.1.el8_8, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-477.147.1.el8_8 +14
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS TUS (v.8.8) bpftool-4.18.0-477.147.1.el8_8, kernel-4.18.0-477.147.1.el8_8, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-477.147.1.el8_8 +14
- RHSA-2026:26535 Released 2026-06-17 · Red Hat rating Criticalkernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.4) bpftool-4.18.0-305.194.1.el8_4, kernel-4.18.0-305.194.1.el8_4, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-305.194.1.el8_4 +14
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS EXTENSION (v.8.4) bpftool-4.18.0-305.194.1.el8_4, kernel-4.18.0-305.194.1.el8_4, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-305.194.1.el8_4 +14
- RHSA-2026:26515 Released 2026-06-17 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.2) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-284.176.1.el9_2, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-284.176.1.el9_2, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-284.176.1.el9_2 +10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.2) bpftool-7.0.0-284.176.1.el9_2, kernel-5.14.0-284.176.1.el9_2, kernel-64k-5.14.0-284.176.1.el9_2 +29
- RHSA-2026:26462 Released 2026-06-17 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-rt security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time E4S (v.9.2) kernel-rt-5.14.0-284.176.1.rt14.461.el9_2, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-284.176.1.rt14.461.el9_2, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-284.176.1.rt14.461.el9_2 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV E4S (v.9.2) kernel-rt-5.14.0-284.176.1.rt14.461.el9_2, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-284.176.1.rt14.461.el9_2, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-284.176.1.rt14.461.el9_2 +11
- RHSA-2026:25533 Released 2026-06-12 · Red Hat rating Criticalkernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.6) bpftool-4.18.0-372.195.1.el8_6, kernel-4.18.0-372.195.1.el8_6, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-372.195.1.el8_6 +14
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS EXTENSION (v.8.6) bpftool-4.18.0-372.195.1.el8_6, kernel-4.18.0-372.195.1.el8_6, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-372.195.1.el8_6 +14
- RHSA-2026:25218 Released 2026-06-11 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.6) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-570.120.1.el9_6, libperf-5.14.0-570.120.1.el9_6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.6) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-570.120.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-570.120.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-570.120.1.el9_6 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.6) kernel-5.14.0-570.120.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-5.14.0-570.120.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-core-5.14.0-570.120.1.el9_6 +28
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v.9.6) kernel-rt-5.14.0-570.120.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-64k-5.14.0-570.120.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-64k-core-5.14.0-570.120.1.el9_6 +21
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v.9.6) kernel-rt-5.14.0-570.120.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-570.120.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-570.120.1.el9_6 +11
- RHSA-2026:23237 Released 2026-06-04 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.4) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-427.129.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-427.129.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-427.129.1.el9_4 +11
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.4) bpftool-7.3.0-427.129.1.el9_4, kernel-5.14.0-427.129.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-5.14.0-427.129.1.el9_4 +29
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time E4S (v.9.4) kernel-rt-5.14.0-427.129.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-427.129.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-427.129.1.el9_4 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV E4S (v.9.4) kernel-rt-5.14.0-427.129.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-427.129.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-427.129.1.el9_4 +11
- RHSA-2026:21556 Released 2026-05-28 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-687.12.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-687.12.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-687.12.1.el9_8 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) kernel-5.14.0-687.12.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-5.14.0-687.12.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-core-5.14.0-687.12.1.el9_8 +28
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-687.12.1.el9_8, libperf-5.14.0-687.12.1.el9_8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-687.12.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-64k-5.14.0-687.12.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-64k-core-5.14.0-687.12.1.el9_8 +21
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-687.12.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-687.12.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-687.12.1.el9_8 +9
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 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:25218 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:21556 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:26515 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:23237 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 10.0) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:55445 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:25218 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:39083 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:21556 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:26535 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:25533 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.8.8) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:26563 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:26515 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:23237 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v. 10.0) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:55445 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:25218 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS EXTENSION (v.8.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:26535 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS EXTENSION (v.8.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:25533 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS TUS (v.8.8) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:26563 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:39083 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:21556 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v. 10.0) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:55445 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:39082 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:39082 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:21556 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time E4S (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:26462 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time E4S (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:23237 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v. 10.0) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:55445 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v.9.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:25218 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:21556 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV E4S (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:26462 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV E4S (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:23237 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v. 10.0) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:55445 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v.9.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:25218 |
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-71089
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-r6cc-j9rp-4f85
- 2026-10-19 Weakness changed · CISA ADP
- 2026-10-29 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-30 Fix available: Linux/[email protected], Linux/Linux@845875f4c6788c88e2334fe5825934821decbdc8 · CNA
- 2026-10-30 1 new reference · CNA
References
Patch 6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b34289505180a83607fcfdce14b5a290d0528476
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7cad37e358970af1bb49030ff01f06a69fa7d985
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/240cd7f2812cc25496b12063d11c823618f364e9
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c2c3f1a3fd74ef16cf115f0c558616a13a8471b4
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c341dee80b5df49a936182341b36395c831c2661
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/72f98ef9a4be30d2a60136dd6faee376f780d06c
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Sources
- CVE-2025-71089 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-71089 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-r6cc-j9rp-4f85 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2025-71089 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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