Guest-to-host escape via untranslated vCPU state
Published Jul 27, 2026 · Updated Jul 27, 2026
Privilege escalation in the Linux Kernel KVM arm64 subsystem allows local users to execute code in the host hypervisor. kvm_hyp_handle_mops() writes a synthetic vcpu_cpsr() value directly to SPSR_EL2 without translating the nested vEL2 state, enabling a controlled ERET into host EL2. Exploitation requires a nested-capable KVM guest and code running at guest vEL2; successful access can read or alter host and other-guest memory, while failed attempts can panic the host.
Summary
What happened
Privilege escalation in the Linux Kernel KVM arm64 subsystem allows local users to execute code in the host hypervisor. kvm_hyp_handle_mops() writes a synthetic vcpu_cpsr() value directly to SPSR_EL2 without translating the nested vEL2 state, enabling a controlled ERET into host EL2. Exploitation requires a nested-capable KVM guest and code running at guest vEL2; successful access can read or alter host and other-guest memory, while failed attempts can panic the host.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-64555
- Published
- Jul 27, 2026
- Updated
- Jul 27, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux Kernel
- Classifications
- T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jul 27, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jul 27, 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=2de451a329cf662beeba71f63c7f83ee24ca6642 <10a568010e827108d149779908850afaec898846
- Affected versionversion=2de451a329cf662beeba71f63c7f83ee24ca6642 <884b44256041ec6b2dcbe8e6a67384d26145cba1
- Affected versionversion=2de451a329cf662beeba71f63c7f83ee24ca6642 <dd3b237eb7780d65eae296d3d3a70012b6e7a02f
- Affected versionversion=2de451a329cf662beeba71f63c7f83ee24ca6642 <ff1022c3de46753eb7eba2f6efd990569e66ff95
- Affected versionversion=6.7
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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