Vulnerability · Published Sep 25, 2026 · Assigned by Linux
CVE-2026-97988vhost: invalidate vring access on IOTLB transitions
Unrated
In plain English
A security flaw in Linux from Linux. There are no confirmed reports of exploitation so far. The chance it is exploited in the next 30 days is estimated at 0.2% (higher than 6% of all known vulnerabilities). Fixed versions are available - upgrade the affected package.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: vhost: invalidate vring access on IOTLB transitions When VIRTIO_F_ACCESS_PLATFORM changes, cached vring pointers and IOTLB metadata are interpreted in a different address space. Keeping them across the transition can leave stale ring mappings in use. Clearing d->iotlb before taking the VQ locks also lets a worker observe a transient NULL d->iotlb and fall back to d->umem while translating a descriptor. Add a common vhost_clear_device_iotlb() helper for vhost-net and vhost-vsock. Take all VQ mutexes in index order before dropping the device-wide IOTLB, invalidate each VQ's cached ring access and metadata, clear pending IOTLB messages, and free the old table after the handoff. This serializes the transition with workers and prevents mixed address space mappings. On the first direct-to-IOTLB transition, invalidate the cached vring addresses. When an existing device IOTLB is replaced, preserve the GIOVA ring addresses and reset only the metadata cache. After clearing ACCESS_PLATFORM, userspace must configure the vring addresses for the new address mode. vhost_vq_invalidate_access() clears desc, avail, and used together. Treat the VQ as invalidated only when all three are NULL, since a single GIOVA address may legitimately be zero.
Affected packages & fixed versions
| Ecosystem | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | linux | no fix listed | DEBIAN-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Debian:13 | linux | 6.12.115-2 | DEBIAN-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Debian:14 | linux | 7.2.7-1 | DEBIAN-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:26.04:LTS | linux | 7.0.0-42.42 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-allwinner-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-aws | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:26.04:LTS | linux-aws | 7.0.0-1016.17 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.17 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.8 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-aws-7.0 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:26.04:LTS | linux-azure | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.17 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.8 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-7.0 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:26.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.17 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.8 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-7.0 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-nvidia | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-nvidia-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:26.04:LTS | linux-gcp | 7.0.0-1016.18 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.17 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.8 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp-7.0 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gke | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gke | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:26.04:LTS | linux-gke | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gkeop | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gkeop | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.17 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.8 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-hwe-7.0 | 7.0.0-42.42~24.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-ibm | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-ibm | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:26.04:LTS | linux-ibm | 7.0.0-1017.17 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-ibm-6.8 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-intel-iot-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-intel-iotg | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-kvm | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:26.04:LTS | linux-nvidia | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.17 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.8 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-7.0 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:26.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-bos | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-lowlatency | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra-igx | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-5.17 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.0 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.1 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.17 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.8 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:26.04:LTS | linux-oem-7.0 | 7.0.0-1017.17 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oracle | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oracle | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:26.04:LTS | linux-oracle | 7.0.0-1015.16 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.17 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.8 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oracle-7.0 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-raspi | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-raspi | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:26.04:LTS | linux-raspi | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-raspi-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:26.04:LTS | linux-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-riscv | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:26.04:LTS | linux-riscv | 7.0.0-42.42.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-riscv-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-riscv-6.17 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv-6.8 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-riscv-7.0 | 7.0.0-42.42.1~24.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-starfive-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-starfive-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-starfive-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-vmware | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-xilinx | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-xilinx-zynqmp | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97988 |
Affected products (as reported)
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 6b1e6cc7855b09a0a9bfa1d9f30172ba366f161c – before 021bf73731f7aa94540a549cf850db59680199606b1e6cc7855b09a0a9bfa1d9f30172ba366f161c – before e8fe13c14d57cc7c6bd69c72c5fabaaf0d918f986b1e6cc7855b09a0a9bfa1d9f30172ba366f161c – before 7f8ee0b8f632441aec456a7c147fb43f5c73542d6b1e6cc7855b09a0a9bfa1d9f30172ba366f161c – before 4a454af8e56c1596ada1421ae5eba90c8896c7c76b1e6cc7855b09a0a9bfa1d9f30172ba366f161c – before e4f4761879a230aa59e569102a6ab9851847d833 |
| Linux | Linux | 4.8 |
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/021bf73731f7aa94540a549cf850db5968019960
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e8fe13c14d57cc7c6bd69c72c5fabaaf0d918f98
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7f8ee0b8f632441aec456a7c147fb43f5c73542d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4a454af8e56c1596ada1421ae5eba90c8896c7c7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e4f4761879a230aa59e569102a6ab9851847d833