Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
KVM: x86: Use active memslots for the per-vCPU MMIO cache
KVM tags the per-vCPU MMIO cache with a memslot generation so that a
memslot update invalidates cached MMIO information. Both the fill and
validation paths use kvm_memslots(), which unconditionally selects address
space 0, even when the vCPU is running in SMM and using address space 1.
Commit 56f17dd3fbc4 ("kvm: x86: fix stale mmio cache bug") added the
memslot generation to the cache key so that a memslot update could not
leave a stale entry valid. When commit 699023e23965 ("KVM: x86: add SMM
to the MMU role, support SMRAM address space") added the SMM address space,
these helpers were not converted to use the active memslots.
Consequently, an update to the SMM memslots can leave an entry from the old
SMM address space apparently valid after the vCPU returns to the normal
address space. A guest can then cause an access to valid RAM at the same
GFN to be returned to userspace as KVM_EXIT_MMIO.
Completing that exit through the VMM's RAM address space writes the backing
page without going through KVM's write-tracking path. If the page backs a
nested EPT table, KVM can continue using shadow translations derived from
the old contents. The WARN_ON_ONCE() in kvm_mmu_write_protect_fault()
catches this invalid cache and memslot combination.
Use the vCPU's active memslots when caching and validating the entry.
Memslot generations are unique across address spaces, so the generation
also distinguishes the normal and SMM views. This matches the MMIO SPTE
cache, which already uses kvm_vcpu_memslots().
On an unpatched current-mainline kernel, a regression test that fills the
cache in SMM and updates only the SMM memslots fails the intended RAM write
and triggers the kvm_mmu_write_protect_fault() warning. With this change,
the same test completes the RAM write without a warning. The x86/smm_test,
set_memory_region_test, and memslot_modification_stress_test selftests also
pass.
KVM: x86: Use active memslots for the per-vCPU MMIO cache
KVM tags the per-vCPU MMIO cache with a memslot generation so that a
memslot update invalidates cached MMIO information. Both the fill and
validation paths use kvm_memslots(), which unconditionally selects address
space 0, even when the vCPU is running in SMM and using address space 1.
Commit 56f17dd3fbc4 ("kvm: x86: fix stale mmio cache bug") added the
memslot generation to the cache key so that a memslot update could not
leave a stale entry valid. When commit 699023e23965 ("KVM: x86: add SMM
to the MMU role, support SMRAM address space") added the SMM address space,
these helpers were not converted to use the active memslots.
Consequently, an update to the SMM memslots can leave an entry from the old
SMM address space apparently valid after the vCPU returns to the normal
address space. A guest can then cause an access to valid RAM at the same
GFN to be returned to userspace as KVM_EXIT_MMIO.
Completing that exit through the VMM's RAM address space writes the backing
page without going through KVM's write-tracking path. If the page backs a
nested EPT table, KVM can continue using shadow translations derived from
the old contents. The WARN_ON_ONCE() in kvm_mmu_write_protect_fault()
catches this invalid cache and memslot combination.
Use the vCPU's active memslots when caching and validating the entry.
Memslot generations are unique across address spaces, so the generation
also distinguishes the normal and SMM views. This matches the MMIO SPTE
cache, which already uses kvm_vcpu_memslots().
On an unpatched current-mainline kernel, a regression test that fills the
cache in SMM and updates only the SMM memslots fails the intended RAM write
and triggers the kvm_mmu_write_protect_fault() warning. With this change,
the same test completes the RAM write without a warning. The x86/smm_test,
set_memory_region_test, and memslot_modification_stress_test selftests also
pass.
Published:
2026-10-23
Score:
n/a
EPSS:
n/a
KEV:
No
Analysis
Analysis and contextual insights are available on OpenCVE Cloud.
Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).
| Vendor | Product | Default status | Versions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | unaffected |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Linux | Linux | affected |
|
No data.
No data.
No data available yet.
Remediation
No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record.
Additional remediation guidance may be available on OpenCVE Cloud.
Tracking
Sign in to view the affected projects.
Advisories
No advisories yet.
References
History
Fri, 23 Oct 2026 13:00:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: x86: Use active memslots for the per-vCPU MMIO cache KVM tags the per-vCPU MMIO cache with a memslot generation so that a memslot update invalidates cached MMIO information. Both the fill and validation paths use kvm_memslots(), which unconditionally selects address space 0, even when the vCPU is running in SMM and using address space 1. Commit 56f17dd3fbc4 ("kvm: x86: fix stale mmio cache bug") added the memslot generation to the cache key so that a memslot update could not leave a stale entry valid. When commit 699023e23965 ("KVM: x86: add SMM to the MMU role, support SMRAM address space") added the SMM address space, these helpers were not converted to use the active memslots. Consequently, an update to the SMM memslots can leave an entry from the old SMM address space apparently valid after the vCPU returns to the normal address space. A guest can then cause an access to valid RAM at the same GFN to be returned to userspace as KVM_EXIT_MMIO. Completing that exit through the VMM's RAM address space writes the backing page without going through KVM's write-tracking path. If the page backs a nested EPT table, KVM can continue using shadow translations derived from the old contents. The WARN_ON_ONCE() in kvm_mmu_write_protect_fault() catches this invalid cache and memslot combination. Use the vCPU's active memslots when caching and validating the entry. Memslot generations are unique across address spaces, so the generation also distinguishes the normal and SMM views. This matches the MMIO SPTE cache, which already uses kvm_vcpu_memslots(). On an unpatched current-mainline kernel, a regression test that fills the cache in SMM and updates only the SMM memslots fails the intended RAM write and triggers the kvm_mmu_write_protect_fault() warning. With this change, the same test completes the RAM write without a warning. The x86/smm_test, set_memory_region_test, and memslot_modification_stress_test selftests also pass. | |
| Title | KVM: x86: Use active memslots for the per-vCPU MMIO cache | |
| First Time appeared |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| Vendors & Products |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| References |
|
|
MITRE
Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Linux
Published:
Updated: 2026-10-23T12:45:00.798Z
Reserved: 2026-09-25T10:25:14.390Z
Link: CVE-2026-99082
Vulnrichment
No data.
NVD
Status : Received
Published: 2026-10-23T13:17:32.440
Modified: 2026-10-23T13:17:32.440
Link: CVE-2026-99082
Redhat
No data.
OpenCVE Enrichment
No data.
Weaknesses
No weakness.