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TI-2026-38446 Aliases CVE-2026-53360GHSA-4pq2-jh73-g3hw

KVM: SEV: Require in-GHCB scratch area if GHCB v2+ is in use

Priority MEDIUM 40CWE-787Published · 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
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-787 and the CVSS impact.

Summary

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: SEV: Require in-GHCB scratch area if GHCB v2+ is in use As per the GHCB spec, when using GHCB v2+ require the software scratch area to reside in the GHCB's shared buffer. Note, things like Page State Change (PSC) requests _rely_ on this behavior, as the guest can't provide a length when making the request, i.e. the size of the guest payload is bounded by the size of the shared buffer. Failure to force usage of the GHCB, and a slew of other flaws, lets a malicious SNP guest corrupt host kernel heap memory, and leak host heap layout information. setup_vmgexit_scratch() allocates a buffer via kvzalloc(exit_info_2), where exit_info_2 is guest-controlled. With exit_info_2=24, this yields a 24-byte allocation in kmalloc-cg-32 (32-byte slab objects). The buffer holds an 8-byte psc_hdr followed by 8-byte psc_entry structs, so only entries[0] and entries[1] are in-bounds. snp_begin_psc() validates end_entry against VMGEXIT_PSC_MAX_COUNT (253) but NOT against the actual buffer size: idx_end = hdr->end_entry; if (idx_end >= VMGEXIT_PSC_MAX_COUNT) { // checks 253, not buffer snp_complete_psc(svm, ...); return 1; } for (idx = idx_start; idx <= idx_end; idx++) { entry_start = entries[idx]; // OOB when idx >= 2 The guest sets end_entry=10+, causing the host to iterate entries[2+] which are OOB into adjacent slab objects. For each OOB entry: - The host reads 8 bytes (OOB READ / info leak oracle) - If the data passes PSC validation, __snp_complete_one_psc() writes cur_page = 1 or 512 into the entry (OOB WRITE, sev.c:3806) - If validation fails, the error response reveals whether adjacent memory is zero vs non-zero (information disclosure to guest) The guest controls allocation size (exit_info_2), entry range (cur_entry/end_entry), and can fire unlimited VMGEXITs to repeatedly hit different slab positions. By exploiting the variety of bugs, a malicious SEV-SNP guest can: - OOB read adjacent kmalloc-cg-32 objects (heap layout disclosure) - OOB write cur_page bits into adjacent objects (heap corruption) - Trigger use-after-free conditions across VMGEXITs E.g. with KASAN enabled, a single insmod of the PoC guest module produces 73 KASAN reports: BUG: KASAN: slab-out-of-bounds in snp_begin_psc+0x126/0x890 Read of size 8 at addr ffff888219ffb5e0 by task qemu-system-x86/2199 BUG: KASAN: slab-out-of-bounds in snp_begin_psc+0x468/0x890 Write of size 8 at addr ffff888351566648 by task qemu-system-x86/2199 The buggy address belongs to the object at ffff888XXXXXXXXX which belongs to the cache kmalloc-cg-32 of size 32 The buggy address is located N bytes to the right of allocated 32-byte region [ffff888XXXXXXXXX, ffff888XXXXXXXXX) Breakdown: 62 slab-out-of-bounds (reads + writes past allocation) 7 slab-use-after-free 4 use-after-free All credit to Stan for the wonderful description and reproducer! [sean: write changelog]

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00297 22nd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Linux (Linux): 6.12.93, 6.18.35, 7.0.12 +1Red Hat: 2 advisories

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
LinuxLinux6.10 and later6.12.93, 6.18.35, 7.0.12, 7.1Patch availableCNA
  • Linux VendorLinux Affected 6.10 and later Fixed in 6.12.93, 6.18.35, 7.0.12, 7.1 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 6

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*6.10 to before 6.12.93; 6.13 to before 6.18.35; 6.19 to before 7.0.12VulnerableLinux
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:7.1:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*7.1 rc3VulnerableLinux
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*7.1 rc4VulnerableLinux
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:*7.1 rc5VulnerableLinux
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.10 to before 6.12.93; 6.13 to before 6.18.35; 6.19 to before 7.0.12 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
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.1 rc3 Vulnerable ·Linux
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.1 rc4 Vulnerable ·Linux
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.1 rc5 Vulnerable ·Linux

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.12.93, 6.18.35, 7.0.12, 7.1

Red Hat 2 advisories

  • RHSA-2026:77689 Released 2026-10-08 · Red Hat rating Important
    kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-687.56.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-687.56.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-687.56.1.el9_8 +12
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) kernel-5.14.0-687.56.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-5.14.0-687.56.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-core-5.14.0-687.56.1.el9_8 +28
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-687.56.1.el9_8, libperf-5.14.0-687.56.1.el9_8
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-687.56.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-64k-5.14.0-687.56.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-64k-core-5.14.0-687.56.1.el9_8 +21
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-687.56.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-687.56.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-687.56.1.el9_8 +9
  • RHSA-2026:77690 Released 2026-10-08 · Red Hat rating Important
    kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
    • 10Base-SMTV kernel-modules-internal-6.12.0-211.64.1.el10_2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) kernel-64k-debug-devel-6.12.0-211.64.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-6.12.0-211.64.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-devel-6.12.0-211.64.1.el10_2 +12
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) kernel-6.12.0-211.64.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-6.12.0-211.64.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-core-6.12.0-211.64.1.el10_2 +29
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) kernel-tools-libs-devel-6.12.0-211.64.1.el10_2, libperf-6.12.0-211.64.1.el10_2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Hidden (v. 10) kernel-modules-internal-6.12.0-211.64.1.el10_2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-211.64.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-64k-6.12.0-211.64.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-64k-core-6.12.0-211.64.1.el10_2 +21
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-211.64.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-core-6.12.0-211.64.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-debug-6.12.0-211.64.1.el10_2 +9

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

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

ProductStatusPlan or fix
10Base-SMTVFixed RHSA-2026:77690
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10)Fixed RHSA-2026:77690
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2026:77689
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10)Fixed RHSA-2026:77690
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2026:77689
Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10)Fixed RHSA-2026:77690
Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2026:77689
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Hidden (v. 10)Fixed RHSA-2026:77690
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10)Fixed RHSA-2026:77690
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2026:77689
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10)Fixed RHSA-2026:77690
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2026:77689
Not affected: 4 products
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-53360
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-4pq2-jh73-g3hw
  3. 2026-10-09 Fix available: RHSA-2026:77689 · Red Hat
  4. 2026-10-09 Fix available: RHSA-2026:77690 · Red Hat
  5. 2026-10-09 Fix available: 10Base-SMTV, Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10), Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) +9 · Red Hat
  6. 2026-10-16 CISA SSVC decision points changed
  7. 2026-10-16 Priority changed: LOW → MEDIUM
  8. 2026-10-19 Weakness changed · CISA ADP
  9. 2026-10-29 Affected versions changed · Red Hat

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