CVE-2026-74356: vhost: fix vhost_get_avail_idx for a non empty ring

Published Aug 15, 2026
·
Updated

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

vhost: fix vhostgetavailidx for a non empty ring

vhostgetavailidx is supposed to report whether it has updated vq->availidx. Instead, it returns whether all entries have been consumed, which is usually the same. But not always - in drivers/vhost/net.c and when mergeable buffers have been enabled, the driver checks whether the combined entries are big enough to store an incoming packet. If not, the driver re-enables notifications with available entries still in the ring. The incorrect return value from vhostgetavailidx propagates through vhostenablenotify and causes the host to livelock if the guest is not making progress, as vhost will immediately disable notifications and retry using the available entries.

This goes back to commit d3bb267bbdcb ("vhost: cache avail index in vhostenablenotify()") which changed vhostenablenotify() to compare the freshly read avail index against vq->lastavailidx instead of the previously cached vq->availidx. Commit 7ad472397667 ("vhost: move smprmb() into vhostgetavailidx()") then carried over the same comparison when refactoring vhostenablenotify() to call the unified vhostgetavailidx().

The obvious fix is to make vhostgetavailidx do what the comment says it does and report whether new entries have been added.

Affected Software

171 affected componentsFixes available
Linux Linux kernel
ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.0*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-azure-edge*
ubuntu/linux-gcp*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-gke-4.15*
ubuntu/linux-gke-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-hwe*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*
ubuntu/linux-oem*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.0*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-gke*
ubuntu/linux-gke-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-intel-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.10*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.6*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-raspi2*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-allwinner-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.17*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.0*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.1*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-starfive-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8*
ubuntu/linux<6.8.0-147.147
6.8.0-147.147
ubuntu/linux-aws<6.8.0-1067.70
6.8.0-1067.70
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-aws-7.0<7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1
7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure<6.8.0-1071.79
6.8.0-1071.79
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-azure-7.0<7.0.0-1017.17~24.04.1
7.0.0-1017.17~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<6.8.0-1069.76
6.8.0-1069.76
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-7.0<7.0.0-1016.16~24.04.1
7.0.0-1016.16~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia*
ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-gcp<6.8.0-1071.79
6.8.0-1071.79
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-7.0<7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1
7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-gke<6.8.0-1066.74
6.8.0-1066.74
ubuntu/linux-gkeop<6.8.0-1052.56
6.8.0-1052.56
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-7.0<7.0.0-38.38~24.04.4
7.0.0-38.38~24.04.4
ubuntu/linux-ibm<6.8.0-1067.68
6.8.0-1067.68
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<6.8.0-147.147.1
6.8.0-147.147.1
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-7.0*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra<6.8.0-1036.39
6.8.0-1036.39
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-oracle<6.8.0-1064.67
6.8.0-1064.67
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-7.0<7.0.0-1013.13~24.04.1
7.0.0-1013.13~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-raspi*
ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-7.0<7.0.0-38.38.1~24.04.1
7.0.0-38.38.1~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-xilinx*
ubuntu/linux-bluefield<6.8.0-1033.38
6.8.0-1033.38
ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-realtime<6.8.1-1062.63
6.8.1-1062.63
ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<6.8.0-1067.70+fips1
6.8.0-1067.70+fips1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<6.8.0-1071.79+fips1
6.8.0-1071.79+fips1
ubuntu/linux-fips<6.8.0-147.147+fips1
6.8.0-147.147+fips1
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<6.8.0-1071.79+fips1
6.8.0-1071.79+fips1
ubuntu/linux<7.0.0-38.38
7.0.0-38.38
ubuntu/linux-aws<7.0.0-1014.14
7.0.0-1014.14
ubuntu/linux-azure<7.0.0-1017.17
7.0.0-1017.17
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<7.0.0-1016.16
7.0.0-1016.16
ubuntu/linux-gcp<7.0.0-1014.14
7.0.0-1014.14
ubuntu/linux-gke<7.0.0-1008.9
7.0.0-1008.9
ubuntu/linux-ibm<7.0.0-1015.15
7.0.0-1015.15
ubuntu/linux-nvidia*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-bos*
ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0<7.0.0-1015.15
7.0.0-1015.15
ubuntu/linux-oracle<7.0.0-1013.13
7.0.0-1013.13
ubuntu/linux-raspi*
ubuntu/linux-realtime<7.0.0-38.38.1
7.0.0-38.38.1
ubuntu/linux-riscv<7.0.0-38.38.1
7.0.0-38.38.1
debian/linux*
debian/linux<6.12.100-1
6.12.100-1
debian/linux<7.1.5-1
7.1.5-1
linux/kernel>=5.18.0<6.1.191
6.1.191
linux/kernel>=6.2.0<6.6.160
6.6.160
linux/kernel>=6.7.0<6.12.97
6.12.97
linux/kernel>=6.13.0<6.18.40
6.18.40
linux/kernel>=6.19.0<7.1.5
7.1.5
debian/linux<=6.1.176-1, <=6.1.190-1
6.12.107-16.12.115-27.2.12-17.2.15-1

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-147.147
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.70
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1
  4. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.79
  5. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17~24.04.1
  6. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1069.76
  7. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.16~24.04.1
  8. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.79
  9. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1
  10. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1066.74
  11. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gkeop to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1052.56
  12. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-38.38~24.04.4
  13. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.68
  14. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-147.147.1
  15. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1036.39
  16. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1064.67
  17. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1013.13~24.04.1
  18. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-38.38.1~24.04.1
  19. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-bluefield to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1033.38
  20. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.1-1062.63
  21. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.70+fips1
  22. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.79+fips1
  23. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-147.147+fips1
  24. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.79+fips1
  25. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-38.38
  26. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14
  27. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17
  28. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.16
  29. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14
  30. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1008.9
  31. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1015.15
  32. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1015.15
  33. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1013.13
  34. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-38.38.1
  35. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-38.38.1
  36. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.12.100-1
  37. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.1.5-1
  38. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.12.107-1Fixed in 6.12.113-1Fixed in 7.2.12-1Fixed in 7.2.14-1
  39. Upgrade

    Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.1.191
  40. Upgrade

    Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.6.160
  41. Upgrade

    Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.12.97
  42. Upgrade

    Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.18.40
  43. Upgrade

    Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.1.5

Event History

Aug 15, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·05:58 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·05:58 AM
DescriptionSeverity
Data Sourced
via OSV·05:58 AM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Data Sourced
via NVD·06:22 AM
DescriptionSeverity
Aug 23, 2026
Data Sourced
via Microsoft·09:57 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-74356?

The severity of CVE-2026-74356 is rated at 37.

2

What systems are affected by CVE-2026-74356?

CVE-2026-74356 affects the Linux kernel's vhost implementation.

3

How do I fix CVE-2026-74356?

To fix CVE-2026-74356, ensure that you have applied the latest patch for your Linux kernel.

4

What does CVE-2026-74356 exploit?

CVE-2026-74356 exploits incorrect reporting in the vhost_get_avail_idx function related to the availability index.

5

When was CVE-2026-74356 published?

CVE-2026-74356 was published on August 15, 2026.

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