Linux Kernel up to 7.3-rc3 KVM kvmppc_svm_page_in memory leak

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6.2	$0-$5k	5.06+

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.3-rc3. This issue affects the function kvmppc_svm_page_in of the component KVM. Such manipulation leads to memory leak. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2026-98433. The attack can be executed remotely. There is not any exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.3-rc3. It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is the function kvmppc_svm_page_in of the component KVM. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory leak vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-401. The product does not sufficiently track and release allocated memory after it has been used, which slowly consumes remaining memory. Impacted is availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: PPC: Book3S HV: fix secure device page leak on uv_page_in() failure In kvmppc_svm_page_in(), if uv_page_in() fails after kvmppc_uvmem_get_page() has succeeded, the secure device page is never released. kvmppc_uvmem_get_page() sets a bit in kvmppc_uvmem_bitmap, allocates a kvmppc_uvmem_page_pvt struct, marks the GFN as KVMPPC_GFN_UVMEM_PFN, and calls zone_device_page_init() which sets refcount=1 and locks the page. The subsequent goto out_finalize skips the *mig.dst assignment, so migrate_vma_finalize() is a no-op for the page, and none of those resources are ever reclaimed. Each occurrence permanently consumes one entry from the firmware-bounded secure memory pool (kvmppc_uvmem_bitmap), leaks pvt, and leaves the GFN marked as secure — making it unusable for the lifetime of the VM. The twin __kvmppc_svm_page_out() already handles the analogous uv_page_out() failure correctly with unlock_page(dpage); __free_page(dpage). Apply the same pattern here: unlock_page() followed by put_page(), which chains through free_zone_device_folio() into kvmppc_uvmem_folio_free() to clear the bitmap bit, free pvt, and reset the GFN state. Reachable whenever uv_page_in() returns an error (e.g. UV pool exhaustion) on any POWER9/10 + Ultravisor/PEF system.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-98433 since 09/25/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be launched remotely. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 10/18/2026). This vulnerability is assigned to T1499 by the MITRE ATT&CK project.

Upgrading to version 5.10.271, 5.15.222, 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.112, 6.18.54, 7.2.8 or 7.3-rc4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch ed2f2ff63cb7e71204096e765c6d02c3b6974b95/8f3b7746874b39fc20e0363c9076c7787d4765ba/a933d7024359e2e566b07903d1294b84f90482ae/c41088b2765af1e97e7bb05f906ae1823eca0388/f3d4b2fc30c97cf8e6f8b880d2de9c17ecac7f5b/dfb84274932737e338ff5eb27f34b4c8ecb01b50/fcbff8008b0e08cd53b611bd0ff7e01f5b962f80/0a416ee20bcccddf91ca5b63696a23b9d11d73aa is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

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Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.10.270
• 5.15.221
• 6.1.188
• 6.6.157
• 6.12.111
• 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
• 6.18.51
• 6.18.52
• 6.18.53
• 7.2.0
• 7.2.1
• 7.2.2
• 7.2.3
• 7.2.4
• 7.2.5
• 7.2.6
• 7.2.7
• 7.3-rc1
• 7.3-rc2
• 7.3-rc3

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: 6.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.2

VulDB Base Score: 6.5
VulDB Temp Score: 6.2
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: Memory leak
CWE: CWE-401 / CWE-404
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 5.10.271/5.15.222/6.1.189/6.6.158/6.12.112/6.18.54/7.2.8/7.3-rc4
Patch: ed2f2ff63cb7e71204096e765c6d02c3b6974b95/8f3b7746874b39fc20e0363c9076c7787d4765ba/a933d7024359e2e566b07903d1294b84f90482ae/c41088b2765af1e97e7bb05f906ae1823eca0388/f3d4b2fc30c97cf8e6f8b880d2de9c17ecac7f5b/dfb84274932737e338ff5eb27f34b4c8ecb01b50/fcbff8008b0e08cd53b611bd0ff7e01f5b962f80/0a416ee20bcccddf91ca5b63696a23b9d11d73aa

Timelineinfo

09/25/2026 CVE reserved
10/18/2026 +23 days Advisory disclosed
10/18/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
10/18/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-98433 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-98433
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-421766

Entryinfo

Created: 10/18/2026 17:02
Changes: 10/18/2026 17:02 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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