UBUNTU-CVE-2026-74713: High severity ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: vhostiotlb: bound map allocation in addrange vhostiotlbaddrangectx() only retires an old entry when the table has a non-zero limit, has exactly reached that limit and has VHOSTIOTLBFLAGRETIRE set. Non-retiring tables can keep allocating entries after reaching their configured limit. Existing vhost devices allocate their IOTLB with maxiotlbentries from vhost.c, which defaults to 2048 and is tunable by module parameter. Use the caller-provided limit at the allocation point instead of adding a separate default in the common IOTLB helper, and reject non-positive values in vhost paths that can report an error. Other vhost IOTLB users should not create zero-limit tables when entries can be populated from userspace or guest-controlled requests. Add caller-side maxiotlbentries parameters for mlx5 vDPA, VDUSE and vhost-vDPA. Reject non-positive VDUSE and vhost-vDPA values, and require at least two entries for vdpasim and mlx5 vDPA paths that install full-range mappings, since those mappings are split into two IOTLB entries. Handle full-range mappings in the common helper by checking that the IOTLB can hold both split entries before inserting the first half. This avoids returning an error after leaving a half mapping behind. When the table is full, keep the existing retire behavior for retiring tables and return -ENOSPC for non-retiring tables. Reuse the retired map node instead of freeing it and allocating a replacement, so a stream of IOTLB updates cannot keep forcing GFPATOMIC allocations after the table has reached its limit. If a zero-limit IOTLB still reaches the common helper, treat it as a configuration error and return -EINVAL. I found this bug myself, though the patch was written with AI assistance.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-hwe-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42~24.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegrato a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1036.39 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-riscv-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42.1~24.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linuxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-awsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.17 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-gcpto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.18 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-ibmto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-oracleto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1015.16 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-riscvto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42.1 - Configuration
Configure max_iotlb_entries to at least 2 because full-range mappings are split into two IOTLB entries.
mlx5 vDPA and vdpa_sim max_iotlb_entries = >=2 - Configuration
Configure max_iotlb_entries to a positive value; non-positive values are rejected.
VDUSE and vhost-vDPA max_iotlb_entries = >0
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
Which systems are realistically exposed to this issue?
Systems using vhost devices or other vhost IOTLB users are relevant, particularly where IOTLB entries can be populated through userspace or guest-controlled requests. The affected Ubuntu kernel package families listed are linux, linux-realtime, linux-azure, linux-gcp, linux-azure-fde, linux-gke, linux-riscv, and linux-gkeop.
What does an attacker need to trigger the problem?
The issue is local and requires no privileges or user interaction according to the supplied vector. Exploitation involves causing entries to be added to a non-retiring IOTLB table after its configured entry limit has been reached.
Are default vhost configurations affected?
Existing vhost devices use max_iotlb_entries from vhost.c, which defaults to 2048 and can be changed through a module parameter. The flaw occurs when a non-retiring table continues allocating entries after reaching its configured limit.
What configuration checks are relevant if patching cannot happen immediately?
Review vhost IOTLB configurations for non-positive limits and for zero-limit tables that may receive mappings from userspace or guest-controlled requests. VDUSE and vhost-vDPA paths should reject non-positive values, while vdpa_sim and mlx5 vDPA require at least two entries when installing full-range mappings.