CVE-2026-74516

Host APIC compromise via stale x2APIC intercepts

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Improper x2APIC interception in Linux KVM allows guest OS users to read host APIC state and interrupt host operation. When AVIC is inhibited while an L2 guest remains active, KVM runs L1 with AVIC disabled but leaves L1's x2APIC MSR intercepts disabled. Exploitation requires control of a nested AMD SVM guest hypervisor with AVIC initially enabled; exposed MSRs permit arbitrary interrupts, task-priority changes, and host denial of service.

CVSS severity8.2
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

Improper x2APIC interception in Linux KVM allows guest OS users to read host APIC state and interrupt host operation. When AVIC is inhibited while an L2 guest remains active, KVM runs L1 with AVIC disabled but leaves L1's x2APIC MSR intercepts disabled. Exploitation requires control of a nested AMD SVM guest hypervisor with AVIC initially enabled; exposed MSRs permit arbitrary interrupts, task-priority changes, and host denial of service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-74516
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 15, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 15, 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=091abbf578f926e763adc0f577baeb7f405b4bdc <6664a5aea45318f4ec156a729949b474dd6e3159
  2. Affected versionversion=091abbf578f926e763adc0f577baeb7f405b4bdc <7668c58dcf465559dc7a0d2e95e9cb79cf47454b
  3. Affected versionversion=091abbf578f926e763adc0f577baeb7f405b4bdc <7d3aae206663c4e006b25a1c7a20a4029e67da76
  4. Affected versionversion=091abbf578f926e763adc0f577baeb7f405b4bdc <89f9e8398e79c49886766fc24a84c37726231104
  5. Affected versionversion=091abbf578f926e763adc0f577baeb7f405b4bdc <f12373625b4dc9bcc89c41872648878c73bb9272
  6. Affected versionversion=6.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=091abbf578f926e763adc0f577baeb7f405b4bdc <6664a5aea45318f4ec156a729949b474dd6e3159; version=091abbf578f926e763adc0f577baeb7f405b4bdc <7668c58dcf465559dc7a0d2e95e9cb79cf47454b; version=091abbf578f926e763adc0f577baeb7f405b4bdc <7d3aae206663c4e006b25a1c7a20a4029e67da76; version=091abbf578f926e763adc0f577baeb7f405b4bdc <89f9e8398e79c49886766fc24a84c37726231104; version=091abbf578f926e763adc0f577baeb7f405b4bdc <f12373625b4dc9bcc89c41872648878c73bb9272; version=6.0

Published CVSS scores

7.3Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:H
8.2Linux CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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