CVE-2026-53359
KVM: x86: Fix shadow paging use-after-free due to unexpected role
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: x86: Fix shadow paging use-after-free due to unexpected role Commit 0cb2af2ea66ad ("KVM: x86: Fix shadow paging use-after-free due to unexpected GFN") fixed a shadow paging mismatch between stored and computed GFNs; the bug could be triggered by changing a PDE mapping from outside the guest, and then deleting a memslot. The rmap_remove() call would miss entries created after the PDE change because the GFN of the leaf SPTE does not match the GFN of the struct kvm_mmu_page. A similar hole however remains if the modified PDE points to a non-leaf page. In this case the gfn can be made to match, but the role does not match: the original large 2MB page creates a kvm_mmu_page with direct=1, while the new 4KB needs a kvm_mmu_page with direct=0. However, kvm_mmu_get_child_sp() does not compare the role, and therefore reuses the page. The next step is installing a leaf (4KB) SPTE on the new path which records an rmap entry under the gfn resolved by the walk. But when that child is zapped its parent kvm_mmu_page has direct=1 and kvm_mmu_page_get_gfn() computes the gfn for the 4KB page as sp->gfn + index instead of using sp->shadowed_translation[] (or sp->gfns[] in older kernels). It therefore fails to remove the recorded entry. When the memslot is dropped the shadow page is freed but the rmap entry survives, as in the scenario that was already fixed. Code that later walks that gfn (dirty logging, MMU notifier invalidation, and so on) dereferences an sptep that lies in the freed page, causing the use-after-free.
CVSS Vector Breakdown
AV:LAttack VectorAC:LAttack ComplexityPR:LPrivileges RequiredUI:NUser InteractionS:CScopeC:HConfidentialityI:HIntegrityA:HAvailabilityWeaknesses
Affected Products
Exploitability
Attack Graph
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MITRE ATT&CK
2 techniquesReferences
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- 13th July – Threat Intelligence Reporten-us·Check Point Research· Advisory AssuranceAmerica data-breach
- Linux-уязвимость Januscape позволяет атаковать хост из гостевой VMru-ru·Хакер (xakep.ru)· Patch Linux Kernel privilege-escalation
- Google pays $250K for Linux vulnerability allowing guest VM escapesen·Ars Technica (Security)· Research KVM cloud
- New Januscape Linux flaw allows VM escape on Intel, AMD devicesen-us·BleepingComputer· PoC Linux kernel cloud
- Linux Kernel Vulnerability Allows VM Escape on Intel and AMD Systemsen-us·SecurityWeek· Research Linux Kernel cloud
- 16-Year-Old Linux KVM Flaw Lets Guest VMs Escape to Host on Intel and AMD x86 Systemsen·The Hacker News· PoC KVM Hypervisor zero-day
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