Race condition in Linux RISC-V KVM IMSIC attribute access
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Low · Low · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
Linux kernel versions from 6.5 are affected. KVM device ioctls are not serialized against KVM_RUN, so kvm_riscv_aia_imsic_rw_attr() can use a stale physical CPU and HGEI for an IMSIC VS-file after a concurrent vCPU migration releases it. A local user with low privileges may then access the interrupt file of another vCPU.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
Description from the CNA
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: RISC-V: KVM: Serialize IMSIC attributes with vCPU migration KVM device ioctls are not serialized against KVM_RUN. As a result, kvm_riscv_aia_imsic_rw_attr() can snapshot the physical CPU and HGEI of an IMSIC VS-file before a concurrent vCPU migration releases it. The HGEI can then be allocated to another vCPU before imsic_vsfile_rw() uses the stale tuple. A GET or SET attribute may consequently access the new owner's interrupt file. Serialize the entire IMSIC attribute operation with the target vCPU mutex. This prevents the VS-file from being migrated and recycled until the attribute access completes. Acquire the mutex killably so that the device ioctl remains interruptible while waiting for KVM_RUN to finish.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
Upgrade the Linux kernel to 6.6.160, 6.12.112, 6.18.55, 7.2.9 or 7.3.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.6.160, 6.12.112, 6.18.55, 7.2.9, 7.3
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
Not affected: 7 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5
Timeline
- 2026-10-18 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98465
- 2026-10-18 Alias added: GHSA-95qg-qjx7-9h4r
- 2026-10-19 Fix available: Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-10-20 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-20 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-21 Fix available: Linux/[email protected], Linux/Linux@6c2bcf6b173d4afed883cceea9d47f2c5194161d · CNA
- 2026-10-21 1 new reference · CNA
- 2026-10-24 CVSS score added · CNA
- 2026-11-06 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
Other 5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6c2bcf6b173d4afed883cceea9d47f2c5194161d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a29c5d2dd2ef9a8617a9a6d5585696d5f149cd98
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c525772c304c971b0d3a1f2898dedbae653efe90
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/71acbea44e78665ea90e3c310fca6bbdcc0252db
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8ae12ccaec6ec74945d8c1ef39f2c1b8df779abc
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Sources
- CVE-2026-98465 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98465 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-95qg-qjx7-9h4r · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98465 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences