CVE-2026-89930

Critical

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: nVMX: Service local TLB flushes on failed nested VM-Enter KVM services local TLB flushes on "full" nested VM-Exits (through __nested_vmx_vmexit()), but not if a nested VM-Enter fails (e.g. due to failed VMCS checks in nested_vmx_enter_non_root_mode()). However, it is possible that KVM had queued TLB flushes that need to be performed, even if the nested VM-Enter was not successful. For example, if VPID is disabled for L2 (via nested_vmx_transition_tlb_flush(), or if via the MSR load lists, as the SDM says: If any MSR is being loaded in such a way that would architecturally require a TLB flush, the TLBs are updated so that, after VM entry, the logical processor will not use any translations that were cached before the transition. The SDM is unclear about when the TLB flush should occur, and whether or not a failed VM entry would flush the TLB, so it is safer to always do the TLB flush in this case. More concretely, KVM also updates the last VPID L1 used for L2 in nested_vmx_transition_tlb_flush() (i.e. last_vpid), even if the VM entry ultimately fails. With the current code, KVM could miss a TLB flush if L1 changes L2's VPID, then does a failed VM entry followed by a successful one, as the failed VM entry would update last_vpid but not actually flush the TLB. Servicing local TLB flushes on failed VM entries makes sure that the TLB is always flushed when last_vpid is updated.

Package Linux Kernel
Published 2026-09-16
Last modified 2026-09-16
CVSS version 3.1
Patch available
Yes

CVSS 3.1 score

9.3

out of 10
Critical
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Changed
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Vector string
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 4.4 and later are affected. Fixed in 5.15.221, 6.1.188, 6.6.157, 6.12.110, 6.18.51, 7.2.5, 7.3-rc1 and their respective stable series.

Affected from
≥ 4.4
Fixed in
✓ 5.15.221 5.15.x ✓ 6.1.188 6.1.x ✓ 6.6.157 6.6.x ✓ 6.12.110 6.12.x ✓ 6.18.51 6.18.x ✓ 7.2.5 7.2.x ✓ 7.3-rc1

Frequently asked questions

  • What is CVE-2026-89930?

    CVE-2026-89930 is a Critical severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 9.3 out of 10 . It affects Linux kernel versions from 4.4 onward and has been patched in 5.15.221, 6.1.188, 6.6.157 and others. CVE-2026-89930 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

  • What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-89930?

    CVE-2026-89930 has a CVSS score of 9.3 out of 10, rated Critical severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H .

  • Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-89930?

    Yes. CVE-2026-89930 has been patched. Fixed versions include 5.15.221, 6.1.188, 6.6.157 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 4.4 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

  • Is CVE-2026-89930 actively exploited?

    No. CVE-2026-89930 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.