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CVE Record

CVE-2026-46147: KVM: arm64: Fix pin leak and publication ordering in __pkvm_init_vcpu()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: arm64: Fix pin leak and publication ordering in __pkvm_init_vcpu() Two bugs exist in the vCPU initialisation path: 1. If a check fails after hyp_pin_shared_mem() succeeds, the cleanup path jumps to 'unlock' without calling unpin_host_vcpu() or unpin_host_sve_state(), permanently leaking pin references on the host vCPU and SVE state pages. Extract a register_hyp_vcpu() helper that performs the checks and the store. When register_hyp_vcpu() returns an error, call unpin_host_vcpu() and unpin_host_sve_state() inline before falling through to the existing 'unlock' label. 2. register_hyp_vcpu() publishes the new vCPU pointer into 'hyp_vm->vcpus[]' with a bare store, allowing a concurrent caller of pkvm_load_hyp_vcpu() to observe a partially initialised vCPU object. Ensure the store uses smp_store_release() and the load uses smp_load_acquire(). While 'vm_table_lock' currently serialises the store and the load, these barriers ensure the reader sees the fully initialised 'hyp_vcpu' object even if there were a lockless path or if the lock's own ordering guarantees were insufficient for nested object initialization.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel issue in ARM64 KVM protected virtualization setup. A failed vCPU initialization can leak pinned memory references, and a concurrent path could see a vCPU before initialization is fully published. Business risk is mainly to ARM64 virtualization hosts; severity is not provided in the sources.

Executive priority

Treat as a kernel maintenance priority for ARM64 virtualization infrastructure. Escalate above routine patching only if affected hosts run sensitive or multi-tenant workloads, because public severity and exploitation evidence are not provided.

Technical view

CVE-2026-46147 fixes two pKVM __pkvm_init_vcpu() bugs: missing unpin cleanup after hyp_pin_shared_mem() success on later failure, and publication of hyp_vm->vcpus[] with a bare store. The fix adds cleanup on register failure and uses release/acquire ordering for vCPU pointer publication and loading.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux ARM64 systems using KVM/pKVM virtualization on affected kernel versions or unpatched downstream backports. Non-ARM64 systems and hosts not using KVM are less likely to be exposed based on the described code path.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not report active exploitation, KEV listing, exploit availability, CVSS, or attacker prerequisites. The described impact is kernel resource pin leakage and possible observation of partially initialized vCPU state during concurrent access.

Researcher notes

The sources identify a cleanup bug causing leaked pin references and a memory-ordering bug around hyp_vm->vcpus[] publication. The record does not provide CVSS, CWE, exploitability analysis, or concrete impact beyond the kernel patch description.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply Linux kernel updates containing the referenced stable fixes or downstream backports.
  • Check distribution advisories for affected ARM64 KVM kernel packages.
  • Prioritize ARM64 virtualization hosts running pKVM or protected KVM workloads.
  • If patch timing is unclear, follow vendor guidance for temporary risk reduction.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory ARM64 Linux virtualization hosts and current kernel package versions.
  • Confirm whether KVM or pKVM is enabled on those hosts.
  • Verify installed kernels include the referenced stable commits or vendor backports.
  • Review kernel vendor advisories for version-specific affected and fixed ranges.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
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

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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
0ADP providers
4Source links

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
LinuxLinux1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 0, 0unaffected
LinuxLinux6.18.30, 7.0.7, 7.1affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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