CVE Catalog

CVE-2026-89981

Unknown
Published: Translated: NVD NIST

Summary

In the Linux kernel for arm64, there is an issue with reading the GMID_EL1 register when MTE is disabled. The read is performed even when MTE is off, leading to an Undefined instruction error and kernel panic in pKVM environments.

Risk Assessment

The vulnerability can cause kernel panic and system unavailability, especially in virtualized environments with pKVM.

Recommendation

Apply the patch that gates the GMID_EL1 read on MTE being enabled, considering configuration and boot parameters.

Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

See all
Original NVD description (English source)

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: arm64: Don't read GMID_EL1 when MTE is disabled __cpuinfo_store_cpu() gates the GMID_EL1 read on the raw ID_AA64PFR1_EL1, so it reads the register even when the kernel has disabled MTE (CONFIG_ARM64_MTE=n or arm64.nomte). KVM sets HCR_EL2.TID5 in that case, and pKVM injects an UNDEF the host cannot handle: Internal error: Oops - Undefined instruction: 0000000002000000 [#1] SMP pc : __cpuinfo_store_cpu+0xf4/0x264 Kernel panic - not syncing: Attempted to kill the idle task! Only pKVM reaches it, and only after a CPU is offlined and brought back online: its CPU_ON relay sets the host HCR before the CPU enters EL1, while plain nVHE sets it at CPUHP_AP_KVM_ONLINE. Gate the read on the CPU's own ID_AA64PFR1_EL1 with the command-line override applied, and on CONFIG_ARM64_MTE, which no register reflects. The boot CPU stores its registers before init_cpu_features() strips an unsafe override, so clamp against the hardware value here too.

Vulnerability data from NVD (NIST) · CISA KEV · EPSS