Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a Linux kernel KVM issue on arm64 where a race can leave virtualization interrupt data in use after it has been freed. A local user with low privileges may be able to impact confidentiality, integrity, and availability on an affected host. The evidence supports high urgency for arm64 virtualization systems, not broad internet-facing exposure.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority for arm64 virtualization infrastructure. It requires local privileges, so it is less urgent than remotely exploitable internet-facing bugs, but the potential host-level confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact makes prompt patch planning important.
Technical view
CVE-2024-26598 is a CWE-416 use-after-free in KVM arm64 vgic-its LPI translation cache handling. A cache hit can race with cache invalidation, such as a DISCARD ITS command, because vgic_its_check_cache() returned a vgic_irq without raising its refcount before dropping the lock. Kernel stable commits add refcount handling.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Linux arm64 systems running KVM with vgic ITS functionality, especially virtualization hosts. The source bundle does not prove exposure for non-arm64 platforms or non-KVM systems. Exact affected and fixed versions should be mapped through kernel stable commits and distribution advisories.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector is local, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. The bundle marks KEV as false and provides no cited evidence of active exploitation, public exploit availability, or remote attack paths.
Researcher notes
The key bug is lifetime management: vgic_its_check_cache() did not elevate the vgic_irq refcount before releasing the lock that serialized refcount changes. Source evidence identifies the race with invalidation operations and stable Linux commits, but does not provide exploit details or a confirmed exploitation report.
Mitigation direction
- Update affected Linux kernels using vendor or kernel stable guidance.
- Prioritize arm64 KVM virtualization hosts and systems running untrusted workloads.
- Review Debian LTS guidance if using Debian-based affected kernels.
- If updates are delayed, reduce local access to affected virtualization hosts.
- Track distribution advisories for exact fixed package versions.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux arm64 hosts running KVM virtualization.
- Compare running kernel versions against vendor advisories and stable commit backports.
- Confirm deployed kernels include the referenced vgic-its refcount fix.
- Check Debian LTS applicability for Debian-managed systems.
- Record residual systems awaiting maintenance windows or vendor packages.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-416: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2024-26598 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d04acadb6490aa3314f9c9e087691e55de153b88CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ba7be666740847d967822bed15500656b26bc703CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/12c2759ab1343c124ed46ba48f27bd1ef5d2dff4CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dba788e25f05209adf2b0175eb1691dc89fb1ba6CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/65b201bf3e9af1b0254243a5881390eda56f72d1CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dd3956a1b3dd11f46488c928cb890d6937d1ca80CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ad362fe07fecf0aba839ff2cc59a3617bd42c33fCVE reference, Linux
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/06/msg00016.htmlCVE reference, CVE · x_transferred
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Use After Free
Use After Free represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.