Linux Kernel up to 6.18.51/7.2.5 IOMMU DMA iommu_dma_get_msi_page race condition

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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8.7$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.51/7.2.5. It has been classified as very critical. This vulnerability affects the function iommu_dma_get_msi_page of the component IOMMU DMA. Performing a manipulation results in race condition. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2026-90244. The attack can be initiated remotely. There is not any exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.51/7.2.5. It has been classified as very critical. This affects the function iommu_dma_get_msi_page of the component IOMMU DMA. 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: iommu/dma: Restore locking around msi_page_list Unlike a group's default domain, which is always freshly allocated and privately owned (iommu_group_alloc_default_domain()), VFIO type1's legacy container merges any newly attached group into an existing domain whenever their iommu_ops and cache-coherency enforcement match. iommu_dma_get_msi_page() only asserts the caller's own group mutex is held (iommu_group_mutex_assert()). On an IOMMU that publishes IOMMU_RESV_SW_MSI, e.g. ARM SMMU, a VM with two such devices assigned through the legacy container can have their guest drivers probe and allocate MSIs in parallel; each host-side VFIO_DEVICE_SET_IRQS lands on a different device fd and group mutex, but both devices' domains are the same merged domain, so both can enter iommu_dma_get_msi_page() concurrently and corrupt msi_page_list. commit 288683c92b1a ("iommu: Make iommu_dma_prepare_msi() into a generic operation") dropped the prior msi_prepare_lock on the reasoning that "each iommu_domain is unique to a group," which holds for default domains but not this VFIO type1 case. Restore the static lock, since it's only guarding a corner case and will likely never be contended. iommufd avoids the equivalent problem by having its own callers (iommufd_sw_map_msi()) take a ctx-wide sw_msi_lock before ever reaching the shared list. VFIO type1 can't mirror that since it dispatches to iommu_dma_sw_msi() which is outside VFIO's jurisdiction.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-90244 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 are known, but no exploit is available. The price for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 09/17/2026).

Upgrading to version 6.18.52, 7.2.6 or 7.3-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch e3c53e9173a47d5ce1fae020f2c6b1fb3c1123c2/2af1e99ec14d226d66ceb9f16c663ee2568e6676/5a9e89ea34e0e34ac5d7e949042d665533549e40 is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

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Productinfo

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Version

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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

AVACAuCIA
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💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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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: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.18.52/7.2.6/7.3-rc1
Patch: e3c53e9173a47d5ce1fae020f2c6b1fb3c1123c2/2af1e99ec14d226d66ceb9f16c663ee2568e6676/5a9e89ea34e0e34ac5d7e949042d665533549e40

Timelineinfo

09/11/2026 CVE reserved
09/17/2026 +6 days Advisory disclosed
09/17/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
09/17/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-90244 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-90244
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-406761

Entryinfo

Created: 09/17/2026 21:00
Changes: 09/17/2026 21:00 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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