In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
vfio/pci: clear vdev->msi_perm after freeing it on init failure
vfio_msi_cap_len() lazily allocates the per-device MSI permission table:
vdev->msi_perm = kmalloc_obj(struct perm_bits, GFP_KERNEL_ACCOUNT);
if (!vdev->msi_perm)
return -ENOMEM;
ret = init_pci_cap_msi_perm(vdev->msi_perm, len, flags);
if (ret) {
kfree(vdev->msi_perm);
return ret; /* vdev->msi_perm left dangling */
}
When init_pci_cap_msi_perm() -> alloc_perm_bits() fails with -ENOMEM, the
error path frees vdev->msi_perm but leaves the freed pointer stored in
it. vdev->msi_perm is not re-zeroed later because struct
vfio_pci_core_device is per-device and persists across open/close cycles,
and the vfio_config_init() error path returns without calling
vfio_config_free(). So the dangling pointer outlives the failed open.
That leads to two use-after-frees on the same device:
- Reuse. The next vfio_config_init() sees the stale pointer at
"if (vdev->msi_perm) return len;" and reuses the freed object. MSI
config accesses in vfio_pci_config_rw_single() then dereference and
call the freed perm->readfn / perm->writefn function pointers.
- Double free. A later vfio_config_free() runs free_perm_bits() and
kfree() on the already-freed object.
Fix it by NULLing vdev->msi_perm after the kfree(), matching the
NULL-after-free discipline already used in free_perm_bits() and
vfio_config_free().
BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in vfio_pci_config_rw_single (drivers/vfio/pci/vfio_pci_config.c:1961)
Read of size 8 at addr ffff88800fcc88d0 by task exploit/143
Call Trace:
...
kasan_report (mm/kasan/report.c:595)
vfio_pci_config_rw_single (drivers/vfio/pci/vfio_pci_config.c:1961)
vfio_pci_config_rw (drivers/vfio/pci/vfio_pci_config.c:1986)
vfio_pci_rw (drivers/vfio/pci/vfio_pci_core.c:1599)
vfs_read (fs/read_write.c:572)
__x64_sys_pread64 (fs/read_write.c:764)
do_syscall_64 (arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94)
...
Followed on device close by a double free of the same object:
Oops: general protection fault, probably for non-canonical address
0x1f63e0e8000008: 0000 [#1] SMP KASAN NOPTI
RIP: 0010:kfree (mm/slub.c:6711)
Call Trace:
vfio_config_free (drivers/vfio/pci/vfio_pci_config.c:1861)
vfio_pci_core_disable (drivers/vfio/pci/vfio_pci_core.c:685)
vfio_pci_core_close_device (drivers/vfio/pci/vfio_pci_core.c:777)
vfio_df_close (drivers/vfio/vfio_main.c:602)
vfio_device_fops_release (drivers/vfio/vfio_main.c:648)
__fput (fs/file_table.c:512)
__x64_sys_close (fs/open.c:1496)
do_syscall_64 (arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94)
...
Kernel panic - not syncing: Fatal exception
What the EG score is made of (scorer v4.0: the three questions the 0–10 score mixes, published apart · methodology)
The EG score (8.8): severity, escalated by confirmed exploitation. This CVE's 8.8 is its impact severity (EG Severity), not escalated.
- EG Severity
- 8.8 HIGHCVSS-B, impact only: no KEV listing, EPSS or EG-KEV tier raises it.GitHub Security Advisory CVSS
- EG Likelihood
- 0.2% within 30 daysSource: FIRST EPSS (model v2026.06.15, score date 2026-10-26). FIRST's exploitation probability, not an EchelonGraph model.
- Confirmed exploitation
- None on record (CISA KEV, EG-KEV Tier 1)Reported apart from the likelihood: an observed fact, not a probability.
- EG Priority
- SSVC Track at medium mission impactTrack at low or medium mission impact; Track* at high (mission-essential systems).CISA BOD 26-04: 14 days if the affected system is publicly exposed; Fix on system upgrade if it is not.Each input and its source, and whom BOD 26-04 binds: the SSVC and BOD 26-04 blocks below.
SSVC (CISA's decision table, applied by EchelonGraph)Track at low or medium mission impact; Track* at high (mission-essential systems).
A fix is available. Apply it within your standard update timelines.
Exploitation none (no CISA value, KEV listing or exploit code on record) · Automatable no (CISA's BOD 26-04 default) · Technical impact total (CISA's BOD 26-04 default). EchelonGraph holds no SSVC assessment of this CVE from CISA: none of these inputs is from Vulnrichment. EchelonGraph applied CISA's decision table to them; CISA publishes SSVC inputs and the table, not a decision for each CVE. Mission impact is CISA's Mission & Well-being decision point, and only you can judge it. CISA's table makes it high when Mission Prevalence is Essential — the vulnerable component "directly provides capabilities that constitute at least one MEF for at least one entity" (MEF: mission essential function) — or when Public Well-Being Impact is Irreversible: "multiple fatalities are likely", the cyber-physical system "is likely lost or destroyed", "extreme or serious externalities" are imposed on other parties, or social systems such as elections or the financial grid "are destabilized and potentially collapse". CISA's decision table
BOD 26-04 (CISA's remediation timeline, Table 1)14 days if the affected system is publicly exposed; Fix on system upgrade if it is not.
The score's inputs: In CISA KEV no (CISA's KEV catalog) · Automatable no (CISA's BOD 26-04 default) · Technical impact total (CISA's BOD 26-04 default). Where an input reads “CISA's BOD 26-04 default”, no one has published it for this CVE, and CISA's implementation guidance says: “If “Automatable” and “Technical Impact” information items about a CVE ID are not available and the CVE ID is not in the KEV Catalog, CISA will treat its values as “no” and “total,” respectively, until CISA or a third party provides metadata about the CVE ID. CISA will always provide the Vulnrichment data for a CVE ID listed in the KEV Catalog.” Whether your system is publicly exposed is yours to answer. BOD 26-04 binds US Federal Civilian Executive Branch agencies; for anyone else it is CISA's published timeline, a reference rather than an obligation. The directive · how EchelonGraph applies it