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CVE Record

CVE-2025-40026: KVM: x86: Don't (re)check L1 intercepts when completing userspace I/O

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: x86: Don't (re)check L1 intercepts when completing userspace I/O When completing emulation of instruction that generated a userspace exit for I/O, don't recheck L1 intercepts as KVM has already finished that phase of instruction execution, i.e. has already committed to allowing L2 to perform I/O. If L1 (or host userspace) modifies the I/O permission bitmaps during the exit to userspace, KVM will treat the access as being intercepted despite already having emulated the I/O access. Pivot on EMULTYPE_NO_DECODE to detect that KVM is completing emulation. Of the three users of EMULTYPE_NO_DECODE, only complete_emulated_io() (the intended "recipient") can reach the code in question. gp_interception()'s use is mutually exclusive with is_guest_mode(), and complete_emulated_insn_gp() unconditionally pairs EMULTYPE_NO_DECODE with EMULTYPE_SKIP. The bad behavior was detected by a syzkaller program that toggles port I/O interception during the userspace I/O exit, ultimately resulting in a WARN on vcpu->arch.pio.count being non-zero due to KVM no completing emulation of the I/O instruction. WARNING: CPU: 23 PID: 1083 at arch/x86/kvm/x86.c:8039 emulator_pio_in_out+0x154/0x170 [kvm] Modules linked in: kvm_intel kvm irqbypass CPU: 23 UID: 1000 PID: 1083 Comm: repro Not tainted 6.16.0-rc5-c1610d2d66b1-next-vm #74 NONE Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009), BIOS 0.0.0 02/06/2015 RIP: 0010:emulator_pio_in_out+0x154/0x170 [kvm] PKRU: 55555554 Call Trace: <TASK> kvm_fast_pio+0xd6/0x1d0 [kvm] vmx_handle_exit+0x149/0x610 [kvm_intel] kvm_arch_vcpu_ioctl_run+0xda8/0x1ac0 [kvm] kvm_vcpu_ioctl+0x244/0x8c0 [kvm] __x64_sys_ioctl+0x8a/0xd0 do_syscall_64+0x5d/0xc60 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x4b/0x53 </TASK>

HighCVSS 7.9Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A flaw in Linux KVM’s x86 nested-virtualization I/O handling can leave virtual CPU emulation in an inconsistent state when interception permissions change during a userspace I/O exit. The reported result is a kernel warning and incomplete I/O emulation. The supplied CVSS assessment indicates potentially high availability impact, but the sources do not document real-world attacks.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority virtualization-platform update where untrusted or multi-tenant workloads use KVM. Schedule prompt remediation through normal kernel maintenance, with faster action for nested-virtualization hosts. Immediate emergency action is not supported by the supplied evidence because active exploitation is not reported.

Technical view

KVM incorrectly rechecked L1 I/O intercepts while completing an already-authorized L2 userspace I/O operation. If L1 or host userspace changed I/O permission bitmaps during the exit, KVM could treat the operation as intercepted after emulating it, leaving vcpu->arch.pio.count nonzero and triggering a warning. Stable-kernel commits prevent this recheck during completion.

Likely exposure

Exposure is concentrated on Linux systems using x86 KVM, particularly nested virtualization and userspace-emulated port I/O. The supplied version data marks multiple Linux release lines as affected, but its formatting is ambiguous. Confirm exposure using distribution advisories, exact kernel builds, and the referenced stable commits rather than relying solely on the listed versions.

Exploitation context

The issue was found by syzkaller using a program that changed port-I/O interception during a userspace exit. CVSS 3.1 scores it 7.9 with local, low-privilege access and high availability impact. KEV is false, and no supplied source reports active exploitation, a public weaponized exploit, or observed attacks.

Researcher notes

The demonstrated failure is a WARN caused by incomplete I/O instruction emulation after interception state changes. The supplied CVSS claims limited confidentiality and integrity impact plus high availability impact, but the description does not demonstrate those broader consequences. No CWE is assigned. Affected-version data includes commit-like and release values, so branch-specific commit analysis is necessary.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply a vendor-supported kernel update containing the applicable referenced stable-kernel fix.
  • Prioritize KVM hosts running nested virtualization or userspace-emulated port I/O workloads.
  • Follow Linux distribution guidance for package versions, reboot requirements, and service restoration.
  • Do not infer fixed status from version numbers alone; verify the applicable commit or vendor backport.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory x86 virtualization hosts and record their running kernel versions and KVM usage.
  • Determine whether nested virtualization and userspace port-I/O emulation are used.
  • Compare each kernel package against vendor advisories and the applicable stable fix commit.
  • Confirm the patched kernel is running after maintenance, including any required reboot.
  • Review kernel logs for the reported emulator_pio_in_out warning and related KVM instability.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
11

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

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.

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CVE-2025-40026 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.9 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/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.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
0ADP providers
10Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

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
7.9CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:H25.3Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.9High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-40026Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/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.

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux8a76d7f25f8f24fc5a328c8e15e4a7313cf141b9, 8a76d7f25f8f24fc5a328c8e15e4a7313cf141b9, 8a76d7f25f8f24fc5a328c8e15e4a7313cf141b9, 8a76d7f25f8f24fc5a328c8e15e4a7313cf141b9, 8a76d7f25f8f24fc5a328c8e15e4a7313cf141b9, 8a76d7f25f8f24fc5a328c8e15e4a7313cf141b9, 8a76d7f25f8f24fc5a328c8e15e4a7313cf141b9, 8a76d7f25f8f24fc5a328c8e15e4a7313cf141b9, 8a76d7f25f8f24fc5a328c8e15e4a7313cf141b9unaffected
LinuxLinux3.0, 0, 5.4.301, 5.10.246, 5.15.195, 6.1.157, 6.6.111, 6.12.52, 6.16.12, 6.17.2, 6.18affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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