UBUNTU-CVE-2026-43331: Medium severity ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge vulnerability

Q: Which systems are exposed to the crash condition?

The issue affects x86 kernels where both CONFIG_KEXEC and CONFIG_KCOV are enabled. The described real-world use case is crash-dump collection with syzkaller, which loads a panic kernel before fuzzing.

Q: What must occur to trigger the problem?

A user must load and execute another kernel with kexec on a KCOV-instrumented kernel, for example using kexec -l followed by kexec -e. After load_segments() changes segment registers, a subsequent KCOV-instrumented C call can cause the kernel to crash in an endless loop.

Q: What is the operational impact?

The reported impact is denial of service: the kernel can enter an endless crash loop. The provided information does not describe confidentiality or integrity impact.

Published May 8, 2026

Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: x86/kexec: Disable KCOV instrumentation after loadsegments() The loadsegments() function changes segment registers, invalidating GS base (which KCOV relies on for per-cpu data). When CONFIGKCOV is enabled, any subsequent instrumented C code call (e.g. nativegdtinvalidate()) begins crashing the kernel in an endless loop. To reproduce the problem, it's sufficient to do kexec on a KCOV-instrumented kernel: $ kexec -l /boot/otherKernel $ kexec -e The real-world context for this problem is enabling crash dump collection in syzkaller. For this, the tool loads a panic kernel before fuzzing and then calls makedumpfile after the panic. This workflow requires both CONFIGKEXEC and CONFIGKCOV to be enabled simultaneously. Adding safeguards directly to the KCOV fast-path (sanitizercovtracepc()) is also undesirable as it would introduce an extra performance overhead. Disabling instrumentation for the individual functions would be too fragile, so disable KCOV instrumentation for the entire machinekexec64.c and physaddr.c. If coverage-guided fuzzing ever needs these components in the future, other approaches should be considered. The problem is not relevant for 32 bit kernels as CONFIGKCOV is not supported there. [ bp: Space out comment for better readability. ]

Affected Software

149 affected componentsFixes available

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<6.8.0-1066.69~22.04.1

6.8.0-1066.69~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8<6.8.0-1070.78~22.04.1

6.8.0-1070.78~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8<6.8.0-1068.75~22.04.1

6.8.0-1068.75~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8<6.8.0-1070.78~22.04.1

6.8.0-1070.78~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8<6.8.0-1066.67~22.04.1

6.8.0-1066.67~22.04.1

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<6.8.0-146.146.1~22.04.1

6.8.0-146.146.1~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8<6.8.0-1064.67~22.04.1

6.8.0-1064.67~22.04.1

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<6.8.0-146.146~22.04.1

6.8.0-146.146~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-starfive-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8<6.8.1-1061.62~22.04.1

6.8.1-1061.62~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux<6.8.0-146.146

6.8.0-146.146

ubuntu/linux-aws<6.8.0-1066.69

6.8.0-1066.69

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-azure<6.8.0-1070.78

6.8.0-1070.78

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<6.8.0-1068.75

6.8.0-1068.75

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia*

ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-gcp<6.8.0-1070.78

6.8.0-1070.78

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-gke<6.8.0-1065.73

6.8.0-1065.73

ubuntu/linux-gkeop<6.8.0-1051.55

6.8.0-1051.55

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-ibm<6.8.0-1066.67

6.8.0-1066.67

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<6.8.0-146.146.1

6.8.0-146.146.1

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia<6.8.0-1064.67

6.8.0-1064.67

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency<6.8.0-1064.67.1

6.8.0-1064.67.1

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-oracle<6.8.0-1063.66

6.8.0-1063.66

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.17*

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-xilinx*

ubuntu/linux-bluefield<6.8.0-1032.37

6.8.0-1032.37

ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-realtime<6.8.1-1061.62

6.8.1-1061.62

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<6.8.0-1066.69+fips1

6.8.0-1066.69+fips1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<6.8.0-1069.77+fips1

6.8.0-1069.77+fips1

ubuntu/linux-fips<6.8.0-146.146+fips1

6.8.0-146.146+fips1

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<6.8.0-1070.78+fips1

6.8.0-1070.78+fips1

ubuntu/linux*

ubuntu/linux-aws*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-oracle*

ubuntu/linux-raspi*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia<7.0.0-1006.6

7.0.0-1006.6

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1066.69~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1070.78~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1068.75~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1070.78~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1066.67~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-146.146.1~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1064.67~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-146.146~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.1-1061.62~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-146.146
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1066.69
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1070.78
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1068.75
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1070.78
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1065.73
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gkeop to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1051.55
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1066.67
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-146.146.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1064.67
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1064.67.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1063.66
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-bluefield to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1032.37
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.1-1061.62
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1066.69+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1069.77+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-146.146+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1070.78+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1006.6
Configuration
Disable KCOV instrumentation for the entire machine_kexec_64.c and physaddr.c files; do not rely on disabling instrumentation for individual functions.
Linux kernel x86 kexec KCOV instrumentation = disabled

Event History

May 8, 2026

CVE Published

via OSV·02:16 PM

Data Sourced

via OSV·02:16 PM

DescriptionSeverityAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

Which systems are exposed to the crash condition?

The issue affects x86 kernels where both CONFIG_KEXEC and CONFIG_KCOV are enabled. The described real-world use case is crash-dump collection with syzkaller, which loads a panic kernel before fuzzing.

What must occur to trigger the problem?

A user must load and execute another kernel with kexec on a KCOV-instrumented kernel, for example using kexec -l followed by kexec -e. After load_segments() changes segment registers, a subsequent KCOV-instrumented C call can cause the kernel to crash in an endless loop.

What is the operational impact?

The reported impact is denial of service: the kernel can enter an endless crash loop. The provided information does not describe confidentiality or integrity impact.

UBUNTU-CVE-2026-43331: Medium severity ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge vulnerability

Affected Software

Remediation

Event History

Frequently Asked Questions

Which systems are exposed to the crash condition?

What must occur to trigger the problem?

What is the operational impact?

Company

Resources

Contact

Frequently Asked Questions

Which systems are exposed to the crash condition?

What must occur to trigger the problem?

What is the operational impact?