CVE-2026-72380: xen/pvcalls: bound backend response req_id before indexing rsp[]

Published Aug 15, 2026
·
Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

xen/pvcalls: bound backend response reqid before indexing rsp[]

pvcallsfronteventhandler() takes reqid directly from the backend-supplied ring response and uses it to index the fixed-size bedata->rsp[] array for a memcpy() and a store, with no range check. A malicious or buggy backend can set reqid past PVCALLSNRRSPPERRING and drive an out-of-bounds write past the bedata allocation.

reqid was also declared int while the wire field rsp->reqid is u32, so a range check on the signed value alone is insufficient: a backend reqid of 0xffffffff becomes -1, passes a >= PVCALLSNRRSPPERRING test and indexes bedata->rsp[-1]. Declare reqid as u32 so a single bound covers both ends.

A backend that sends an out-of-range reqid has violated the wire protocol, so rather than silently dropping the response, log once and stop trusting the backend: set bedata->disabled. The event handler then ignores further responses, and the request paths that wait for a response return -EIO instead of blocking forever. This mirrors the fatal-error handling xen-netback uses (xenviffataltxerr()).

The pvcalls frontend currently trusts its backend, so this is not a classic-Xen security issue, but it matters for hardening PV frontends against malicious backends (confidential and disaggregated deployments).

Affected Software

1 affected component
XEN Linux kernel (xen/pvcalls)

Event History

Aug 15, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·05:56 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·05:56 AM
DescriptionSeverity
Data Sourced
via NVD·06:22 AM
DescriptionSeverity

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-72380?

CVE-2026-72380 has a risk score of 40, indicating a moderate severity vulnerability.

2

How do I fix CVE-2026-72380?

To fix CVE-2026-72380, update the affected Linux kernel to the latest patched version that resolves this vulnerability.

3

What systems are affected by CVE-2026-72380?

CVE-2026-72380 affects systems running vulnerable versions of the Linux kernel utilizing xen/pvcalls.

4

What types of attacks can exploit CVE-2026-72380?

Exploitation of CVE-2026-72380 could allow an attacker to gain unauthorized access or cause a denial of service through manipulation of backend response requests.

5

When was CVE-2026-72380 published?

CVE-2026-72380 was published on August 15, 2026.

Contact

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