Read the docs
TI-2026-33837 Aliases CVE-2026-46113GHSA-gcf3-9g28-gv44

KVM: x86: Fix shadow paging use-after-free due to unexpected GFN

Priority LOW 39CWE-416Published · Updated

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: 36 fixed, 1 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: Fix shadow paging use-after-free due to unexpected GFN The shadow MMU computes GFNs for direct shadow pages using sp->gfn plus the SPTE index. This assumption breaks for shadow paging if the guest page tables are modified between VM entries (similar to commit aad885e77496, "KVM: x86/mmu: Drop/zap existing present SPTE even when creating an MMIO SPTE", 2026-03-27). The flow is as follows: - a PDE is installed for a 2MB mapping, and a page in that area is accessed. KVM creates a kvm_mmu_page consisting of 512 4KB pages; the kvm_mmu_page is marked by FNAME(fetch) as direct-mapped because the guest's mapping is a huge page (and thus contiguous). - the PDE mapping is changed from outside the guest. - the guest accesses another page in the same 2MB area. KVM installs a new leaf SPTE and rmap entry; the SPTE uses the "correct" GFN (i.e. based on the new mapping, as changed in the previous step) but that GFN is outside of the [sp->gfn, sp->gfn + 511] range; therefore the rmap entry cannot be found and removed when the kvm_mmu_page is zapped. - the memslot that covers the first 2MB mapping is deleted, and the kvm_mmu_page for the now-invalid GPA is zapped. However, rmap_remove() only looks at the [sp->gfn, sp->gfn + 511] range established in step 1, and fails to find the rmap entry that was recorded by step 3. - any operation that causes an rmap walk for the same page accessed by step 3 then walks a stale rmap and dereferences a freed kvm_mmu_page. This includes dirty logging or MMU notifier invalidations (e.g., from MADV_DONTNEED). The underlying issue is that KVM's walking of shadow PTEs assumes that if a SPTE is present when KVM wants to install a non-leaf SPTE, then the existing kvm_mmu_page must be for the correct gfn. Because the only way for the gfn to be wrong is if KVM messed up and failed to zap a SPTE... which shouldn't happen, but *actually* only happens in response to a guest write. That bug dates back literally forever, as even the first version of KVM assumes that the GFN matches and walks into the "wrong" shadow page. However, that was only an imprecision until 2032a93d66fa ("KVM: MMU: Don't allocate gfns page for direct mmu pages") came along. Fix it by checking for a target gfn mismatch and zapping the existing SPTE. That way the old SP and rmap entries are gone, KVM installs the rmap in the right location, and everyone is happy.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00195 9th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Linux (Linux): 5.15.222, 6.1.175, 6.6.140 +4Red Hat: 11 advisoriesRed Hat: 36 fixed, 1 without a fix

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

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
LinuxLinux2.6.20 and later5.15.222, 6.1.175, 6.6.140, 6.12.88, 6.18.30, 7.0.7, 7.1Patch availableCNA
  • Linux VendorLinux Affected 2.6.20 and later Fixed in 5.15.222, 6.1.175, 6.6.140, 6.12.88, 6.18.30, 7.0.7, 7.1 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 3

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*2.6.20 to before 6.1.175; 6.2 to before 6.6.140; 6.7 to before 6.12.88; 6.13 to before 6.18.30; 6.19 to before 7.0.7VulnerableLinux
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*7.1 rc1VulnerableLinux
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*7.1 rc2VulnerableLinux
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.6.20 to before 6.1.175; 6.2 to before 6.6.140; 6.7 to before 6.12.88; 6.13 to before 6.18.30; 6.19 to before 7.0.7 Vulnerable ·Linux
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.1 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.1 rc2 Vulnerable ·Linux

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.15.222, 6.1.175, 6.6.140, 6.12.88, 6.18.30, 7.0.7, 7.1

Red Hat 11 advisories

  • RHSA-2026:49033 Released 2026-07-31 · Red Hat rating Important
    kernel security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.6) bpftool-4.18.0-372.204.1.el8_6, kernel-4.18.0-372.204.1.el8_6, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-372.204.1.el8_6 +14
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS EXTENSION (v.8.6) bpftool-4.18.0-372.204.1.el8_6, kernel-4.18.0-372.204.1.el8_6, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-372.204.1.el8_6 +14
  • RHSA-2026:41229 Released 2026-07-17 · Red Hat rating Important
    kernel security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.8.8) bpftool-4.18.0-477.154.1.el8_8, kernel-4.18.0-477.154.1.el8_8, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-477.154.1.el8_8 +14
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS TUS (v.8.8) bpftool-4.18.0-477.154.1.el8_8, kernel-4.18.0-477.154.1.el8_8, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-477.154.1.el8_8 +14
  • RHSA-2026:40082 Released 2026-07-15 · Red Hat rating Important
    kernel security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.2) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-284.181.1.el9_2, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-284.181.1.el9_2, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-284.181.1.el9_2 +10
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.2) bpftool-7.0.0-284.181.1.el9_2, kernel-5.14.0-284.181.1.el9_2, kernel-64k-5.14.0-284.181.1.el9_2 +29
Show 8 more Red Hat advisories
  • RHSA-2026:39983 Released 2026-07-15 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    kernel-rt security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time E4S (v.9.2) kernel-rt-5.14.0-284.181.1.rt14.466.el9_2, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-284.181.1.rt14.466.el9_2, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-284.181.1.rt14.466.el9_2 +9
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV E4S (v.9.2) kernel-rt-5.14.0-284.181.1.rt14.466.el9_2, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-284.181.1.rt14.466.el9_2, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-284.181.1.rt14.466.el9_2 +11
  • RHSA-2026:39371 Released 2026-07-14 · Red Hat rating Important
    kernel security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 10.0) kernel-64k-debug-devel-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-devel-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0 +12
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v. 10.0) kernel-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-core-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0 +28
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v. 10.0) kernel-tools-libs-devel-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0, libperf-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v. 10.0) kernel-rt-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-64k-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-64k-core-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0 +21
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v. 10.0) kernel-rt-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-core-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-debug-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0 +11
  • RHSA-2026:39083 Released 2026-07-14 · Red Hat rating Important
    kernel 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 Important
    kernel-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
  • RHSA-2026:38902 Released 2026-07-13 · Red Hat rating Important
    kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
    • Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.6) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6, libperf-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.6) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6 +12
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.6) kernel-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-core-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6 +28
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v.9.6) kernel-rt-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-64k-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-64k-core-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6 +21
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v.9.6) kernel-rt-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6 +11
  • RHSA-2026:37729 Released 2026-07-10 · Red Hat rating Important
    kernel security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.4) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-427.137.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-427.137.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-427.137.1.el9_4 +11
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.4) bpftool-7.3.0-427.137.1.el9_4, kernel-5.14.0-427.137.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-5.14.0-427.137.1.el9_4 +29
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time E4S (v.9.4) kernel-rt-5.14.0-427.137.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-427.137.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-427.137.1.el9_4 +9
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV E4S (v.9.4) kernel-rt-5.14.0-427.137.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-427.137.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-427.137.1.el9_4 +11
  • RHSA-2026:36957 Released 2026-07-09 · Red Hat rating Important
    kernel security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-687.24.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-687.24.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-687.24.1.el9_8 +12
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) kernel-5.14.0-687.24.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-5.14.0-687.24.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-core-5.14.0-687.24.1.el9_8 +28
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-687.24.1.el9_8, libperf-5.14.0-687.24.1.el9_8
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-687.24.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-64k-5.14.0-687.24.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-64k-core-5.14.0-687.24.1.el9_8 +21
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-687.24.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-687.24.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-687.24.1.el9_8 +9
  • RHSA-2026:36956 Released 2026-07-09 · Red Hat rating Important
    kernel security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) kernel-64k-debug-devel-6.12.0-211.32.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-6.12.0-211.32.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-devel-6.12.0-211.32.1.el10_2 +12
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) kernel-6.12.0-211.32.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-6.12.0-211.32.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-core-6.12.0-211.32.1.el10_2 +29
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) kernel-tools-libs-devel-6.12.0-211.32.1.el10_2, libperf-6.12.0-211.32.1.el10_2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-211.32.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-64k-6.12.0-211.32.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-64k-core-6.12.0-211.32.1.el10_2 +21
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-211.32.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-core-6.12.0-211.32.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-debug-6.12.0-211.32.1.el10_2 +9

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9AffectedNo fix yet: Fix deferred
Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.6)Fixed RHSA-2026:38902
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10)Fixed RHSA-2026:36956
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2026:36957
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.2)Fixed RHSA-2026:40082
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.4)Fixed RHSA-2026:37729
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 10.0)Fixed RHSA-2026:39371
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.6)Fixed RHSA-2026:38902
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10)Fixed RHSA-2026:36956
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8)Fixed RHSA-2026:39083
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2026:36957
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.6)Fixed RHSA-2026:49033
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.8.8)Fixed RHSA-2026:41229
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.2)Fixed RHSA-2026:40082
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.4)Fixed RHSA-2026:37729
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v. 10.0)Fixed RHSA-2026:39371
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.6)Fixed RHSA-2026:38902
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS EXTENSION (v.8.6)Fixed RHSA-2026:49033
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS TUS (v.8.8)Fixed RHSA-2026:41229
Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8)Fixed RHSA-2026:39083
Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10)Fixed RHSA-2026:36956
Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2026:36957
Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v. 10.0)Fixed RHSA-2026:39371
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. 10)Fixed RHSA-2026:36956
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2026:36957
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time E4S (v.9.2)Fixed RHSA-2026:39983
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time E4S (v.9.4)Fixed RHSA-2026:37729
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v. 10.0)Fixed RHSA-2026:39371
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v.9.6)Fixed RHSA-2026:38902
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10)Fixed RHSA-2026:36956
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2026:36957
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV E4S (v.9.2)Fixed RHSA-2026:39983
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV E4S (v.9.4)Fixed RHSA-2026:37729
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v. 10.0)Fixed RHSA-2026:39371
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v.9.6)Fixed RHSA-2026:38902
Not affected: 2 products
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-46113
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-gcf3-9g28-gv44
  3. 2026-10-03 Fix available: Linux/[email protected], Linux/Linux@9597963a8ca16259d194a1d9950d7bd22a10ab2f · CNA
  4. 2026-10-03 1 new reference · CNA
  5. 2026-10-16 CISA SSVC decision points changed
  6. 2026-10-19 Weakness changed · CISA ADP

References

  • TI-2025-26358 tls: fix handling of zero-length records on the rx_list KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2026-38352 netfilter: bridge: make ebt_snat ARP rewrite writable KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2013-05264 The (1) get_user and (2) put_user API functions in the Linux kernel before 3.5.5 on the… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2022-00125 Integer overflow in kernel KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
  • 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
See all 15278 →

Sources