Host crash via unlocked SEV region registration
Published Apr 24, 2026 · Updated Apr 24, 2026
NULL pointer dereference in Linux Kernel KVM SEV allows local users to crash the host through concurrent KVM ioctl operations. sev_mem_enc_register_region() checks sev_guest() without holding kvm->lock, so a failed KVM_SEV_INIT operation can race region registration and append to an uninitialized sev->regions_list. Access to the KVM device and SEV support are required; successful triggering causes a general-protection fault and host-kernel crash.
Summary
What happened
NULL pointer dereference in Linux Kernel KVM SEV allows local users to crash the host through concurrent KVM ioctl operations. sev_mem_enc_register_region() checks sev_guest() without holding kvm->lock, so a failed KVM_SEV_INIT operation can race region registration and append to an uninitialized sev->regions_list. Access to the KVM device and SEV support are required; successful triggering causes a general-protection fault and host-kernel crash.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-31592
- Published
- Apr 24, 2026
- Updated
- Apr 24, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux Kernel
- Classifications
- CWE-476, T1499.004
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 24, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 24, 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?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <0ff93ff0ba82e9511770e175fa50682a1ab14fb6
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <35a0963d361f98bba798fd15d229dcb166c04684
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <ab725ac3022469ecd4d7aa7d5646712e98b249d8
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- CNA-published syzlang KVM SEV crash reproducerproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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