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CVE Record

CVE-2024-26620: s390/vfio-ap: always filter entire AP matrix

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: s390/vfio-ap: always filter entire AP matrix The vfio_ap_mdev_filter_matrix function is called whenever a new adapter or domain is assigned to the mdev. The purpose of the function is to update the guest's AP configuration by filtering the matrix of adapters and domains assigned to the mdev. When an adapter or domain is assigned, only the APQNs associated with the APID of the new adapter or APQI of the new domain are inspected. If an APQN does not reference a queue device bound to the vfio_ap device driver, then it's APID will be filtered from the mdev's matrix when updating the guest's AP configuration. Inspecting only the APID of the new adapter or APQI of the new domain will result in passing AP queues through to a guest that are not bound to the vfio_ap device driver under certain circumstances. Consider the following: guest's AP configuration (all also assigned to the mdev's matrix): 14.0004 14.0005 14.0006 16.0004 16.0005 16.0006 unassign domain 4 unbind queue 16.0005 assign domain 4 When domain 4 is re-assigned, since only domain 4 will be inspected, the APQNs that will be examined will be: 14.0004 16.0004 Since both of those APQNs reference queue devices that are bound to the vfio_ap device driver, nothing will get filtered from the mdev's matrix when updating the guest's AP configuration. Consequently, queue 16.0005 will get passed through despite not being bound to the driver. This violates the linux device model requirement that a guest shall only be given access to devices bound to the device driver facilitating their pass-through. To resolve this problem, every adapter and domain assigned to the mdev will be inspected when filtering the mdev's matrix.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2024-26620 affects Linux on IBM s390 systems using vfio-ap to pass cryptographic AP queues into guests. Under specific reconfiguration conditions, a guest could receive access to an AP queue not currently bound to the vfio-ap driver, breaking the expected device isolation model.

Executive priority

Treat as a targeted virtualization isolation issue for s390 cryptographic queue pass-through. Prioritize if those systems support sensitive workloads or multi-tenant guests; otherwise business urgency is limited.

Technical view

The flaw is in s390 vfio-ap matrix filtering. When assigning an adapter or domain to a mediated device, older logic inspected only newly affected APQNs. That could miss previously assigned queues whose binding state changed, allowing unbound AP queues to remain in the guest AP configuration. The fix filters the entire assigned adapter/domain matrix.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux s390 environments using vfio-ap mediated devices for AP queue pass-through. General Linux servers, desktops, and non-s390 systems are not indicated as affected by the supplied sources.

Exploitation context

The sources do not report active exploitation, and CISA KEV is false. The described condition depends on vfio-ap AP pass-through configuration changes and queue binding state. No remote unauthenticated exploitation path is supported by the supplied evidence.

Researcher notes

The issue is correctness and isolation in vfio-ap matrix filtering, not a broadly reachable network bug. Evidence lacks CVSS, CWE, exploit reports, or vendor-specific package status. Version and fix assessment should be tied to distro backports.

Mitigation direction

  • Update affected s390 Linux kernels to builds containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Check Linux distribution advisories for backported vfio-ap fixes and supported kernel versions.
  • Inventory systems using vfio-ap mediated devices and AP queue pass-through.
  • Restrict vfio-ap reconfiguration to trusted administrators until patched.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether hosts are IBM s390 systems running Linux with vfio-ap enabled.
  • Review kernel package changelogs for CVE-2024-26620 or the referenced stable commits.
  • Verify AP queue pass-through configurations after patching behave according to the Linux device model.
  • Check vulnerability scanners against actual kernel backport status, not only upstream version numbers.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
6

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

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.

0CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
2ADP providers
5Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux48cae940c31d2407d860d87c41d5f9871c0521db, 48cae940c31d2407d860d87c41d5f9871c0521db, 48cae940c31d2407d860d87c41d5f9871c0521db, 48cae940c31d2407d860d87c41d5f9871c0521dbunaffected
LinuxLinux6.0, 0, 6.1.76, 6.6.15, 6.7.3, 6.8affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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