Linux Kernel up to 6.12.109/6.18.50/7.2.4 KVM vmx_vcpu_load_vmcs race condition

CVSS Meta Temp Score CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.	Current Exploit Price (≈) Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.	CTI Interest Score Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
8.7	$0-$5k	0.42-

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as very critical has been detected in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.109/6.18.50/7.2.4. This vulnerability affects the function vmx_vcpu_load_vmcs of the component KVM. Performing a manipulation results in race condition. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2026-89929. The attack can be initiated remotely. There is not any exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.109/6.18.50/7.2.4. It has been classified as very critical. This affects the function vmx_vcpu_load_vmcs of the component KVM. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a race condition vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-362. The product contains a code sequence that can run concurrently with other code, and the code sequence requires temporary, exclusive access to a shared resource, but a timing window exists in which the shared resource can be modified by another code sequence that is operating concurrently. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: nVM: Ensure INVVPID is emulated on the correct physical CPU When emulating INVVPID, KVM executes INVVPID on the physical CPU using vpid02 (instead of the L1 assigned VPID), after doing some validations on the operands. However, it is possible that the physical CPU KVM executes INVVPID on is different from the CPU L2 is running on. For example, in the following scenario: - L2 runs on CPU #1 and exits to L1 (vmx->nested.vmcs02.cpu=1) - L1 migrates to CPU #2 and executes INVVPID - KVM executes INVVPID on CPU #2 - L1 migrates back to CPU #1 and runs L2 (vmx->nested.vmcs02.cpu=1) The TLB entries on CPU #1 are never invalidated, because INVVPID was executed on CPU #2, and vmcs02 never ran on a different pCPU (i.e. vmx_vcpu_load_vmcs() will *not* request KVM_REQ_TLB_FLUSH). Ensure that INVVPID is being executed on the same pCPU that L2 last ran on, and if not, fallback to clearing last_vpid=0 to trigger a full VPID flush on the next nested VM-Enter (as KVM will detect L1 using a different VPID for L2). If L2 ends up running on a different pCPU, KVM will flush the TLB anyway through vmx_vcpu_load_vmcs().

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-89929 since 09/11/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The exploitation needs additional levels of successful authentication. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 09/16/2026).

Upgrading to version 6.12.110, 6.18.51, 7.2.5 or 7.3-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch d03e721801ac54b9fdf05668aa0c069f07913b68/27bdeb5fd19046ffba9ff234e92fe553eb2efb30/9941850e8adf164d005dbd3774c4b79e91a3cb8e/6d00e67326d831e6e610933a3800712f4ffe6ec1 is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.12.109
• 6.18.0
• 6.18.1
• 6.18.2
• 6.18.3
• 6.18.4
• 6.18.5
• 6.18.6
• 6.18.7
• 6.18.8
• 6.18.9
• 6.18.10
• 6.18.11
• 6.18.12
• 6.18.13
• 6.18.14
• 6.18.15
• 6.18.16
• 6.18.17
• 6.18.18
• 6.18.19
• 6.18.20
• 6.18.21
• 6.18.22
• 6.18.23
• 6.18.24
• 6.18.25
• 6.18.26
• 6.18.27
• 6.18.28
• 6.18.29
• 6.18.30
• 6.18.31
• 6.18.32
• 6.18.33
• 6.18.34
• 6.18.35
• 6.18.36
• 6.18.37
• 6.18.38
• 6.18.39
• 6.18.40
• 6.18.41
• 6.18.42
• 6.18.43
• 6.18.44
• 6.18.45
• 6.18.46
• 6.18.47
• 6.18.48
• 6.18.49
• 6.18.50
• 7.2.0
• 7.2.1
• 7.2.2
• 7.2.3
• 7.2.4

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 9.1
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 8.7

VulDB Base Score: 9.1
VulDB Temp Score: 8.7
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Race condition
CWE: CWE-362
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.12.110/6.18.51/7.2.5/7.3-rc1
Patch: d03e721801ac54b9fdf05668aa0c069f07913b68/27bdeb5fd19046ffba9ff234e92fe553eb2efb30/9941850e8adf164d005dbd3774c4b79e91a3cb8e/6d00e67326d831e6e610933a3800712f4ffe6ec1

Timelineinfo

09/11/2026 CVE reserved
09/16/2026 +5 days Advisory disclosed
09/16/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
09/16/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-89929 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-89929
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-405771

Entryinfo

Created: 09/16/2026 14:46
Changes: 09/16/2026 14:46 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Discussion

Might our Artificial Intelligence support you?

Check our Alexa App!