Bug 2477073 (CVE-2026-43483)

Summary: CVE-2026-43483 kernel: KVM: SVM: Set/clear CR8 write interception when AVIC is (de)activated
Product: [Other] Security Response Reporter: OSIDB Bzimport <bzimport>
Component: vulnerabilityAssignee: Product Security <prodsec-ir-bot>
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Version: unspecifiedCC: rhel-process-autobot, watson-tool-maintainers
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Hardware: All   
OS: Linux   
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A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) subsystem, specifically within the SVM (Secure Virtual Machine) module. This vulnerability arises from incorrect handling of CR8 write interceptions when the Advanced Virtual Interrupt Controller (AVIC) is activated or deactivated. This can lead to the CR8 register remaining intercepted, causing the Task Priority Register (TPR) to become out of sync with the hardware. For Windows guest operating systems, this desynchronization can result in system instability or crashes.
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Description OSIDB Bzimport 2026-05-13 16:02:39 UTC
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

KVM: SVM: Set/clear CR8 write interception when AVIC is (de)activated

Explicitly set/clear CR8 write interception when AVIC is (de)activated to
fix a bug where KVM leaves the interception enabled after AVIC is
activated.  E.g. if KVM emulates INIT=>WFS while AVIC is deactivated, CR8
will remain intercepted in perpetuity.

On its own, the dangling CR8 intercept is "just" a performance issue, but
combined with the TPR sync bug fixed by commit d02e48830e3f ("KVM: SVM:
Sync TPR from LAPIC into VMCB::V_TPR even if AVIC is active"), the danging
intercept is fatal to Windows guests as the TPR seen by hardware gets
wildly out of sync with reality.

Note, VMX isn't affected by the bug as TPR_THRESHOLD is explicitly ignored
when Virtual Interrupt Delivery is enabled, i.e. when APICv is active in
KVM's world.  I.e. there's no need to trigger update_cr8_intercept(), this
is firmly an SVM implementation flaw/detail.

WARN if KVM gets a CR8 write #VMEXIT while AVIC is active, as KVM should
never enter the guest with AVIC enabled and CR8 writes intercepted.

[Squash fix to avic_deactivate_vmcb. - Paolo]