CVE-2026-98465 RISC-V: KVM: Serialize IMSIC attributes with vCPU migration
A race condition in Linux KVM allows a privileged attacker to access another vCPU's interrupt file during migration, leading to data exposure or modification.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- An administrator
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-98465?
CVE-2026-98465 is a high-severity vulnerability in Linux, published on 18 Oct 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
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.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-98465?
How do I fix CVE-2026-98465?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Is CVE-2026-98465 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-98465 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as AZL-108906, BELL-CVE-2026-98465, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-98465, GHSA-95qg-qjx7-9h4r, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-98465.