CVE-2026-98471Hinoki check available

Stale cache retention via skipped migration maintenance

Published Oct 18, 2026 · Updated Oct 18, 2026

Cache maintenance failure in Linux 5.16 KVM SEV allows attackers to cause unspecified impact via intra-host VM migration. The sev_migrate_from function clears the source VM's SEV state without flushing its caches, so subsequent memory reclamation skips maintenance and leaves stale cached data after destruction. The path requires same-host migration of an SEV guest; the published description does not establish attacker privileges or a specific disclosure, corruption, or service interruption outcome.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.20%
Next 30 days · Oct 19, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkAvailable
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Summary

What happened

Cache maintenance failure in Linux 5.16 KVM SEV allows attackers to cause unspecified impact via intra-host VM migration. The sev_migrate_from function clears the source VM's SEV state without flushing its caches, so subsequent memory reclamation skips maintenance and leaves stale cached data after destruction. The path requires same-host migration of an SEV guest; the published description does not establish attacker privileges or a specific disclosure, corruption, or service interruption outcome.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-98471
Published
Oct 18, 2026
Updated
Oct 18, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 18, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 18, 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=5.16
  2. Affected versionversion=b56639318bb2be66aceba92836279714488709b4 <37dfb676fafd1eef36fe0bb649607afbb0d5521b
  3. Affected versionversion=b56639318bb2be66aceba92836279714488709b4 <93de2a6a4b91b72607136dd656edf03fb399d27f
  4. Affected versionversion=b56639318bb2be66aceba92836279714488709b4 <d4cc2dff12116a700add601c0262132cc26e1b2c

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.16; version=b56639318bb2be66aceba92836279714488709b4 <37dfb676fafd1eef36fe0bb649607afbb0d5521b; version=b56639318bb2be66aceba92836279714488709b4 <93de2a6a4b91b72607136dd656edf03fb399d27f; version=b56639318bb2be66aceba92836279714488709b4 <d4cc2dff12116a700add601c0262132cc26e1b2c

Published CVSS scores

No CVSS assessment is available in this record.

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.

Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.

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

No observations available

Sep 22, 2026Sep 28, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 28, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

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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