UBUNTU-CVE-2025-71078: Medium severity ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: powerpc/64s/slb: Fix SLB multihit issue during SLB preload On systems using the hash MMU, there is a software SLB preload cache that mirrors the entries loaded into the hardware SLB buffer. This preload cache is subject to periodic eviction — typically after every 256 context switches — to remove old entry. To optimize performance, the kernel skips switchmmucontext() in switchmmirqsoff() when the prev and next mmstruct are the same. However, on hash MMU systems, this can lead to inconsistencies between the hardware SLB and the software preload cache. If an SLB entry for a process is evicted from the software cache on one CPU, and the same process later runs on another CPU without executing switchmmucontext(), the hardware SLB may retain stale entries. If the kernel then attempts to reload that entry, it can trigger an SLB multi-hit error. The following timeline shows how stale SLB entries are created and can cause a multi-hit error when a process moves between CPUs without a MMU context switch. CPU 0 CPU 1 ----- ----- Process P exec swapper/1 loadelfbinary beginnewexc activatemm switchmmirqsoff switchmmucontext switchslb / This invalidates all the entries in the HW and setup the new HW SLB entries as per the preload cache. / contextswitch schedmigratetask migrates process P to cpu-1 Process swapper/0 context switch (to process P) (uses mmstruct of Process P) switchmmirqsoff() switchslb loadslb++ / loadslb becomes 0 here and we evict an entry from the preload cache with preloadage(). We still keep HW SLB and preload cache in sync, that is because all HW SLB entries anyways gets evicted in switchslb during SLBIA. We then only add those entries back in HW SLB, which are currently present in preloadcache (after eviction). / loadelfbinary continues... setupnewexec() slbsetupnewexec() schedswitch event schedmigratetask migrates process P to cpu-0 contextswitch from swapper/0 to Process P switchmmirqsoff() / Since both prev and next mm struct are same we don't call switchmmucontext(). This will cause the HW SLB and SW preload cache to go out of sync in preloadnewslbcontext. Because there was an SLB entry which was evicted from both HW and preload cache on cpu-1. Now later in preloadnewslbcontext(), when we will try to add the same preload entry again, we will add this to the SW preload cache and then will add it to the HW SLB. Since on cpu-0 this entry was never invalidated, hence adding this entry to the HW SLB will cause a SLB multi-hit error. / loadelfbinary cont ---truncated---
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
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ubuntu/linux-aws-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1103.110~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1110.119~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1103.112~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-173.183~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1097.100~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1098.104~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-173.183~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1055.55~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1100.106~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1097.101~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linuxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-173.183 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-awsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1103.110 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1052.55~22.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azureto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1109.118 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1059.65~22.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-fdeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1109.118.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1058.65~22.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gcpto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1103.112 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1054.57~22.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gketo a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1099.105 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gkeopto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1086.94 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.8to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-110.110~22.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-ibmto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1097.100 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1051.51~22.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-intel-iotgto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1098.104 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-kvmto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1095.100 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-lowlatencyto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-173.183 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-110.110.1~22.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-nvidiato a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1098.99 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1051.54~22.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegrato a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1055.55 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-igxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1044.44 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-oracleto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1100.106 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1049.50~22.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-raspito a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1097.100 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-110.110~22.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmpto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1067.71 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-bluefieldto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1086.88 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtimeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1094.96 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-realtimeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1102.111 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.1-1047.48~22.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-aws-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1103.110+fips1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1109.118+fips1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-173.183+fips1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gcp-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1103.112+fips1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linuxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-110.110 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-awsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1052.55 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-aws-6.17to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.17.0-1012.12~24.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azureto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1054.60 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-6.17to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.17.0-1013.13~24.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-fdeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1058.65 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidiato a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1039.42 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gcpto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1054.57 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.17to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.17.0-1012.12~24.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gketo a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1050.56 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gkeopto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1037.40 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.17to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.17.0-22.22~24.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-ibmto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1051.51 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-lowlatencyto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-110.110.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-nvidiato a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1051.54 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.17to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.17.0-1018.18 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatencyto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1051.54.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegrato a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1022.22 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-oem-6.17to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.17.0-1020.20 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-oracleto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1049.50 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.17to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.17.0-1011.11~24.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-raspito a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1052.56 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.17to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.17.0-22.22.1~24.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-xilinxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1028.29 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-bluefieldto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1017.21 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtimeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-2042.43 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-realtimeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.1-1047.48 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.17to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.17.0-1010.11~24.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-aws-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1052.55+fips1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1053.59+fips1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-110.110+fips2 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gcp-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1054.57+fips1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linuxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.17.0-22.22 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-awsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.17.0-1012.12 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azureto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.17.0-1013.13 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gcpto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.17.0-1012.12 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-oracleto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.17.0-1011.11 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-raspito a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.17.0-1013.13 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-realtimeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.17.0-1010.11 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-riscvto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.17.0-22.22.1
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
Which deployments are relevant to this issue?
The issue is relevant to PowerPC 64-bit systems using the hash MMU. The affected Ubuntu kernel package families listed are linux, linux-aws-fips, linux-azure, linux-azure-fips, linux-fips, linux-gcp, linux-gcp-fips, and linux-realtime.
What conditions can produce the failure?
A process must have an SLB entry evicted from the software preload cache on one CPU and then run on another CPU without switch_mmu_context() being executed. If the kernel later reloads the corresponding entry while stale hardware SLB state remains, an SLB multi-hit error can occur.
Does the available information identify an attacker-controlled exploitation path?
No. The provided information describes a kernel state-consistency failure involving process migration, cache eviction, and skipped MMU context switching, but does not identify required attacker privileges, a remote vector, or a specific attacker-controlled trigger.