CVE-2026-43214

Host compromise via unsynchronized KVM memslot access

Published May 6, 2026 · Updated May 6, 2026

Missing synchronization in Linux Kernel KVM allows local users to compromise the virtualization host through KVM vCPU ioctls. In __get_sregs2(), PDPTR reads reach guest-memory memslots through __kvm_memslots() while only vcpu->mutex is held, omitting the required kvm->srcu read lock or slots_lock. A local user who can open /dev/kvm can race KVM_GET_SREGS2 against memslot updates, enabling host memory disclosure, modification, and service interruption.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.14%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Missing synchronization in Linux Kernel KVM allows local users to compromise the virtualization host through KVM vCPU ioctls. In __get_sregs2(), PDPTR reads reach guest-memory memslots through __kvm_memslots() while only vcpu->mutex is held, omitting the required kvm->srcu read lock or slots_lock. A local user who can open /dev/kvm can race KVM_GET_SREGS2 against memslot updates, enabling host memory disclosure, modification, and service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-43214
Published
May 6, 2026
Updated
May 6, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 6, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=5.14
  2. Affected versionversion=6dba940352038b56db9b591b172fb2ec76a5fd5e <57536ff0a6bd69a5808d682925202babdb5ddc13
  3. Affected versionversion=6dba940352038b56db9b591b172fb2ec76a5fd5e <708e20c66b2761d878a2bc3c7534e7f814e4dec5
  4. Affected versionversion=6dba940352038b56db9b591b172fb2ec76a5fd5e <95d848dc7e639988dbb385a8cba9b484607cf98c
  5. Affected versionversion=6dba940352038b56db9b591b172fb2ec76a5fd5e <9f2bfea51151dfbb24b52f452eb3d5f5fe0e506e
  6. Affected versionversion=6dba940352038b56db9b591b172fb2ec76a5fd5e <b33f8d816950b10e7879cd8ffd7ae4b649ada4db
  7. Affected versionversion=6dba940352038b56db9b591b172fb2ec76a5fd5e <f621ca24f9f489e226e22560761b04884984133b

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=5.14; version=6dba940352038b56db9b591b172fb2ec76a5fd5e <57536ff0a6bd69a5808d682925202babdb5ddc13; version=6dba940352038b56db9b591b172fb2ec76a5fd5e <708e20c66b2761d878a2bc3c7534e7f814e4dec5; version=6dba940352038b56db9b591b172fb2ec76a5fd5e <95d848dc7e639988dbb385a8cba9b484607cf98c; version=6dba940352038b56db9b591b172fb2ec76a5fd5e <9f2bfea51151dfbb24b52f452eb3d5f5fe0e506e; version=6dba940352038b56db9b591b172fb2ec76a5fd5e <b33f8d816950b10e7879cd8ffd7ae4b649ada4db; version=6dba940352038b56db9b591b172fb2ec76a5fd5e <f621ca24f9f489e226e22560761b04884984133b

Published CVSS scores

7.8kernel.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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.

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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

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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