CVE-2026-74568: KVM: arm64: vgic: Fix race between LPI release and re-registration
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
KVM: arm64: vgic: Fix race between LPI release and re-registration
Fix a potential race between decrementing an LPI's reference count and evicting that structure from the LPI xarray.
LPI structures are maintained in the VGIC LPI xarray (dist->lpixa). When the reference count of an LPI structure drops to zero, vgicreleaselpilocked() removes the structure from the xarray and frees it under the xarray lock.
However, the release of an LPI can race with a concurrent LPI re-registration with the same INTID via vgicaddlpi() on another CPU, since the reference count drop and the xarray eviction are not performed in a single atomic step. This can happen e.g. if the guest issues a DISCARD while the LPI is still referenced from a vCPU's active-pending list (aplist), and the same INTID is re-mapped via MAPTI.
Particularly, vgicreleaselpilocked() is called from two distinct paths: direct release via vgicputirq(), and deferred release via vgicreleasedeletedlpis(). During direct release, the issue can result in deleting a newly registered LPI from the xarray:
CPU0 (Releasing LPI) CPU1 (Adding new LPI) ==================== ===================== vgicputirq() vgicputirq() refcountdecandtest() vgicaddlpi() xalockirqsave() oldirq = xaload(.., intid) vgictrygetirqref(oldirq) == false new IRQ inserted --> xastore(.., intid, ..) xaunlockirqrestore() xalockirqsave(); vgicreleaselpilocked() xaerase(.., irq->intid) <-- BUG: new IRQ is erased kfreercu(oldirq)
During the deferred release path, the old IRQ can be leaked:
CPU0 (Releasing LPI) CPU1 (Adding new LPI) ==================== ===================== vgicputirqnorelease() vgicputirq() refcountdecandtest() irq->pendingrelease = true vgicaddlpi() xalockirqsave() oldirq = xaload(.., intid) vgictrygetirqref(oldirq) == false BUG: old IRQ overwritten --> xastore(.., intid, ..) xaunlockirqrestore()
vgicreleasedeletedlpis() xalockirqsave() xaforeach() { .. } <-- old IRQ with pendingrelease = true is gone, so it cannot be released
To fix the direct release path, move the reference count drop inside the xarray lock, making sure that vgicaddlpi() never encounters the to-be-released LPI.
In the deferred release path, the refcount drop must happen under a raw spinlock, so the xarray lock cannot be grabbed, and the same solution does not work. Instead, update vgicaddlpi(), so that if it evicts an LPI from the xarray, it takes on the responsibility of freeing it. Consequently, an LPI may now be freed concurrently after a deferred release drops the refcount, so accessing the pendingrelease field is no longer safe from use-after-free. Delete all uses of the flag, and update vgicreleasedeletedlpis() to identify orphaned LPIs purely based on their refcount.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
Linux kernel (KVM arm64 vgic)to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Patch KVM: arm64: vgic: Fix race between LPI release and re-registration
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-74568?
The severity of CVE-2026-74568 is classified as risk 51.
How do I fix CVE-2026-74568?
To fix CVE-2026-74568, update to the latest version of the Linux Kernel where this vulnerability has been resolved.
What are the potential consequences of CVE-2026-74568?
CVE-2026-74568 could lead to exploit scenarios involving use-after-free vulnerabilities in the KVM component of the Linux kernel.
Which systems are affected by CVE-2026-74568?
CVE-2026-74568 affects systems running the affected versions of the Linux kernel that utilize KVM virtualization on arm64 architecture.
When was CVE-2026-74568 published?
CVE-2026-74568 was published on August 15, 2026.