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CVE-2024-26976: KVM: Always flush async #PF workqueue when vCPU is being destroyed

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: Always flush async #PF workqueue when vCPU is being destroyed Always flush the per-vCPU async #PF workqueue when a vCPU is clearing its completion queue, e.g. when a VM and all its vCPUs is being destroyed. KVM must ensure that none of its workqueue callbacks is running when the last reference to the KVM _module_ is put. Gifting a reference to the associated VM prevents the workqueue callback from dereferencing freed vCPU/VM memory, but does not prevent the KVM module from being unloaded before the callback completes. Drop the misguided VM refcount gifting, as calling kvm_put_kvm() from async_pf_execute() if kvm_put_kvm() flushes the async #PF workqueue will result in deadlock. async_pf_execute() can't return until kvm_put_kvm() finishes, and kvm_put_kvm() can't return until async_pf_execute() finishes: WARNING: CPU: 8 PID: 251 at virt/kvm/kvm_main.c:1435 kvm_put_kvm+0x2d/0x320 [kvm] Modules linked in: vhost_net vhost vhost_iotlb tap kvm_intel kvm irqbypass CPU: 8 PID: 251 Comm: kworker/8:1 Tainted: G W 6.6.0-rc1-e7af8d17224a-x86/gmem-vm #119 Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009), BIOS 0.0.0 02/06/2015 Workqueue: events async_pf_execute [kvm] RIP: 0010:kvm_put_kvm+0x2d/0x320 [kvm] Call Trace: <TASK> async_pf_execute+0x198/0x260 [kvm] process_one_work+0x145/0x2d0 worker_thread+0x27e/0x3a0 kthread+0xba/0xe0 ret_from_fork+0x2d/0x50 ret_from_fork_asm+0x11/0x20 </TASK> ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]--- INFO: task kworker/8:1:251 blocked for more than 120 seconds. Tainted: G W 6.6.0-rc1-e7af8d17224a-x86/gmem-vm #119 "echo 0 > /proc/sys/kernel/hung_task_timeout_secs" disables this message. task:kworker/8:1 state:D stack:0 pid:251 ppid:2 flags:0x00004000 Workqueue: events async_pf_execute [kvm] Call Trace: <TASK> __schedule+0x33f/0xa40 schedule+0x53/0xc0 schedule_timeout+0x12a/0x140 __wait_for_common+0x8d/0x1d0 __flush_work.isra.0+0x19f/0x2c0 kvm_clear_async_pf_completion_queue+0x129/0x190 [kvm] kvm_arch_destroy_vm+0x78/0x1b0 [kvm] kvm_put_kvm+0x1c1/0x320 [kvm] async_pf_execute+0x198/0x260 [kvm] process_one_work+0x145/0x2d0 worker_thread+0x27e/0x3a0 kthread+0xba/0xe0 ret_from_fork+0x2d/0x50 ret_from_fork_asm+0x11/0x20 </TASK> If kvm_clear_async_pf_completion_queue() actually flushes the workqueue, then there's no need to gift async_pf_execute() a reference because all invocations of async_pf_execute() will be forced to complete before the vCPU and its VM are destroyed/freed. And that in turn fixes the module unloading bug as __fput() won't do module_put() on the last vCPU reference until the vCPU has been freed, e.g. if closing the vCPU file also puts the last reference to the KVM module. Note that kvm_check_async_pf_completion() may also take the work item off the completion queue and so also needs to flush the work queue, as the work will not be seen by kvm_clear_async_pf_completion_queue(). Waiting on the workqueue could theoretically delay a vCPU due to waiting for the work to complete, but that's a very, very small chance, and likely a very small delay. kvm_arch_async_page_present_queued() unconditionally makes a new request, i.e. will effectively delay entering the guest, so the remaining work is really just: trace_kvm_async_pf_completed(addr, cr2_or_gpa); __kvm_vcpu_wake_up(vcpu); mmput(mm); and mmput() can't drop the last reference to the page tables if the vCPU is still alive, i.e. the vCPU won't get stuck tearing down page tables. Add a helper to do the flushing, specifically to deal with "wakeup all" work items, as they aren't actually work items, i.e. are never placed in a workqueue. Trying to flush a bogus workqueue entry rightly makes __flush_work() complain (kudos to whoever added that sanity check). Note, commit 5f6de5cbebee ("KVM: Prevent module exit until al ---truncated---

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux KVM cleanup flaw can leave asynchronous page-fault work running while a virtual CPU, virtual machine, or KVM module is being destroyed. This may cause hangs or unsafe access to freed resources. Exploitation requires local, low-privilege access according to the supplied CVSS assessment, so internet exposure alone is not sufficient.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority virtualization-host update, especially in multi-tenant environments. It is not supported as an internet-remote emergency or known-exploited event. Schedule expedited kernel patching through normal maintenance and verify hosts rebooted into corrected builds.

Technical view

KVM did not consistently flush each vCPU’s asynchronous page-fault workqueue during teardown. A callback could outlive vCPU, VM, or module state, while an attempted reference-count workaround could deadlock. The kernel fix flushes relevant work before destruction and removes the problematic reference gifting.

Likely exposure

Exposure is concentrated on Linux virtualization hosts using KVM with an affected kernel, particularly where untrusted or lower-privileged local users can interact with virtualization workloads. The supplied record lists multiple affected kernel lines through 6.9, but distribution backports can change actual status.

Exploitation context

The supplied CVSS 3.1 vector is 7.8: local access, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, and potentially high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. CISA KEV status is false, and the source bundle provides no evidence of active exploitation or a public exploit.

Researcher notes

Review vCPU teardown paths involving async page-fault completion queues, workqueue flushing, and KVM module reference release. The record’s version data mixes release versions and commit identifiers, so do not infer distribution vulnerability solely from version strings. No exploit method should be inferred from the supplied crash and deadlock traces.

Mitigation direction

  • Install a vendor-supported kernel update containing the applicable KVM fix.
  • Prioritize multi-tenant KVM hosts and systems allowing lower-privileged virtualization access.
  • Follow distribution advisories because vendors may backport fixes without changing the main kernel version.
  • Where immediate updating is impossible, restrict untrusted local access to KVM capabilities.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux hosts with KVM enabled and record their exact kernel package builds.
  • Compare each build with its distribution’s CVE-2024-26976 advisory and backport status.
  • Confirm the updated kernel is running after installation, not merely installed.
  • Review logs for KVM teardown warnings, blocked workers, or hangs; absence does not prove safety.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
5

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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ATT&CK lookup starting points

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cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-400: Exact CWE lookup

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2024-26976 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
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

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.

2CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
2ADP providers
12Source links

SSVC decision data

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

CVSS vector scores

2 official scores

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Linux
7CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H15.9CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2024-26976Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

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
cvssV3_1other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxaf585b921e5d1e919947c4b1164b59507fe7cd7b, af585b921e5d1e919947c4b1164b59507fe7cd7b, af585b921e5d1e919947c4b1164b59507fe7cd7b, af585b921e5d1e919947c4b1164b59507fe7cd7b, af585b921e5d1e919947c4b1164b59507fe7cd7b, af585b921e5d1e919947c4b1164b59507fe7cd7b, af585b921e5d1e919947c4b1164b59507fe7cd7b, af585b921e5d1e919947c4b1164b59507fe7cd7b, af585b921e5d1e919947c4b1164b59507fe7cd7bunaffected
LinuxLinux2.6.38, 0, 4.19.312, 5.4.274, 5.10.215, 5.15.154, 6.1.84, 6.6.24, 6.7.12, 6.8.3, 6.9affected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-400 · source CWE mapping

Uncontrolled Resource Consumption

Uncontrolled Resource Consumption represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.