CVE-2026-23401Patch(linux / linux_kernel)

LOWCVSS 5.5 · MEDIUM

Signal is active with 1 mentions in latest observed window

Immediate actions

  • Patch linux linux_kernel systems immediately

Recommended action window: Monitor and triage in normal cycle

NVD description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: x86/mmu: Drop/zap existing present SPTE even when creating an MMIO SPTE When installing an emulated MMIO SPTE, do so *after* dropping/zapping the existing SPTE (if it's shadow-present). While commit a54aa15c6bda3 was right about it being impossible to convert a shadow-present SPTE to an MMIO SPTE due to a _guest_ write, it failed to account for writes to guest memory that are outside the scope of KVM. E.g. if host userspace modifies a shadowed gPTE to switch from a memslot to emulted MMIO and then the guest hits a relevant page fault, KVM will install the MMIO SPTE without first zapping the shadow-present SPTE. ------------[ cut here ]------------ is_shadow_present_pte(*sptep) WARNING: arch/x86/kvm/mmu/mmu.c:484 at mark_mmio_spte+0xb2/0xc0 [kvm], CPU#0: vmx_ept_stale_r/4292 Modules linked in: kvm_intel kvm irqbypass CPU: 0 UID: 1000 PID: 4292 Comm: vmx_ept_stale_r Not tainted 7.0.0-rc2-eafebd2d2ab0-sink-vm #319 PREEMPT Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009), BIOS 0.0.0 02/06/2015 RIP: 0010:mark_mmio_spte+0xb2/0xc0 [kvm] Call Trace: <TASK> mmu_set_spte+0x237/0x440 [kvm] ept_page_fault+0x535/0x7f0 [kvm] kvm_mmu_do_page_fault+0xee/0x1f0 [kvm] kvm_mmu_page_fault+0x8d/0x620 [kvm] vmx_handle_exit+0x18c/0x5a0 [kvm_intel] kvm_arch_vcpu_ioctl_run+0xc55/0x1c20 [kvm] kvm_vcpu_ioctl+0x2d5/0x980 [kvm] __x64_sys_ioctl+0x8a/0xd0 do_syscall_64+0xb5/0x730 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x4b/0x53 RIP: 0033:0x47fa3f </TASK> ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]---

0.5/ 10 priority

Sources & remediation

Weakness type (CWE)
CWE-416

Priority

LOW

Exploitation

NONE

PoC

NONE

Patch

AVAILABLE

Momentum

STABLE

Are you affected?

If you run products in this scope, you should treat this CVE as relevant to your environment.

  • linux_kernel

Threat summary

  • Patch or workaround signal is available
  • 3 mentions across 2 observed days
  • Momentum state: stable

What's happening

  • Patch or workaround mentioned in 2 signals
  • Technical details provided in 2 signals
  • General: 1 classified signal
  • Peaked 1d ago at 2 mentions (2026-04-01); latest day: 1
  • 3 total mentions across 2 days

Affected systems

Vendors
Products
linux_kernel

2 versions affected across 1 product

Deep dive

Activity timeline3 mentions / 2d
01122Mentions · 2026-04-01: 2Mentions · 2026-04-26: 1Patch / Workaround · 2026-04-01: 1Patch / Workaround · 2026-04-26: 1Technical Details · 2026-04-01: 1Technical Details · 2026-04-26: 104-0104-26
Signal classification2 categories
Patch
266.7%
General
133.3%
Referenced assets3 URLs
Classification over time
DateTotalLabels
2026-04-012
General1Patch1
2026-04-261
Patch1
Full discourse3 posts
  • WindowsForum@windowsforum
    Patch

    🪟 CVE-2026-23401: a “guest-triggered” MMU/ MMIO bug that can threaten host availability. Translation: your VM walls are still made of paper. Patch KVM ASAP. https://windowsforum.com/threads/cve-2026-23401-kvm-mmu-guest-triggered-mmio-spte-bug-threatens-host-availability.415259/?utm_source=x&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=news_node84 #KvmVirtualization #LinuxKernelSecurity #Cve202623401 #MmioShadowPaging https://t.co/WpOSMjPf6E

    Post summary

    The post highlights a newly disclosed KVM MMU/MMIO bug (CVE‑2026‑23401) that could render hypervisor host unavailable, urging an immediate patch.

    0000049
    1.1K followersView on X
  • Vulmon Vulnerability Feed@VulmonFeeds
    General

    CVE-2026-23401 In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM https://vulmon.com/vulnerabilitydetails?qid=CVE-2026-23401

    Post summary

    The post notes that CVE‑2026‑23401, affecting the KVM component of the Linux kernel, has been resolved, but it offers no further technical or mitigation details.

    0000058
    4.0K followersView on X
  • CVE@CVEnew
    Patch

    CVE-2026-23401 In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: x86/mmu: Drop/zap existing present SPTE even when creating an MMIO SPTE When installing an … https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-23401

    Post summary

    CVE‑2026‑23401, a Linux kernel KVM MMU issue, has been fixed and the vulnerability is no longer active; no PoC, exploit, or active exploitation is reported.

    0000082
    56.9K followersView on X
CPE platform detail9 entries

9 of 9 entries

PartVendorProductVersionTarget SWTarget HW
OSlinuxlinux_kernel---
OSlinuxlinux_kernel5.13--
OSlinuxlinux_kernel7.0--
OSlinuxlinux_kernel7.0--
OSlinuxlinux_kernel7.0--
OSlinuxlinux_kernel7.0--
OSlinuxlinux_kernel7.0--
OSlinuxlinux_kernel7.0--
OSlinuxlinux_kernel7.0--

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