CVE-2023-5090

Host crash via stale x2APIC MSR interception

Published Nov 6, 2023 · Updated Aug 6, 2026

Improper x2APIC MSR interception in KVM on affected RHEL 8 and 9 hosts allows guest OS users to crash the host kernel. svm_set_x2apic_msr_interception() returns when an x2APIC guest resets into xAPIC mode, leaving host x2APIC MSRs directly accessible. Exploitation requires KVM SVM with x2AVIC enabled on an AMD host and control of a guest OS that can reset its APIC.

CVSS severity6.0
Medium
EPSS probability0.23%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper x2APIC MSR interception in KVM on affected RHEL 8 and 9 hosts allows guest OS users to crash the host kernel. svm_set_x2apic_msr_interception() returns when an x2APIC guest resets into xAPIC mode, leaving host x2APIC MSRs directly accessible. Exploitation requires KVM SVM with x2AVIC enabled on an AMD host and control of a guest OS that can reset its APIC.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-5090
Published
Nov 6, 2023
Updated
Aug 6, 2026
Vendor
Red Hat
Product
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
Classifications
CWE-755, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 6, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 6, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected versions are unavailable in this record. Check the vendor advisory for version and patch details.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Red Hat · Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8Affected versions are unavailable in this record.
Red Hat · Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 Extended Update SupportAffected versions are unavailable in this record.
Red Hat · Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9Affected versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

6.0Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-755Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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