Linux Kernel up to 6.18.54/7.2.8/7.3-rc4 KVM pkvm_vcpu_init_sve operation after expiration

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.
4.2	$0-$5k	1.86

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.54/7.2.8/7.3-rc4 and classified as problematic. This issue affects the function pkvm_vcpu_init_sve of the component KVM. This manipulation causes operation after expiration. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2026-98637. The attack requires local access. There is no available exploit. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.54/7.2.8/7.3-rc4. Affected by this vulnerability is the function pkvm_vcpu_init_sve of the component KVM. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a operation after expiration vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-672. The product uses, accesses, or otherwise operates on a resource after that resource has been expired, released, or revoked. As an impact it is known to affect availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: arm64: Do not clear VM-wide SVE feature on vCPU init failure pkvm_vcpu_init_sve() clears KVM_ARM_VCPU_SVE in kvm->arch.vcpu_features when it fails, but vcpu_has_sve() tests KVM_ARCH_FLAG_GUEST_HAS_SVE, which is left set. Later vCPUs on that VM then skip the SVE setup and register with a NULL sve_state, which the guest's first FP access hands to sve_load_state(). Return the error without touching vcpu_features.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-98637 since 09/25/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. An attack has to be approached locally. Additional levels of successful authentication are necessary for exploitation. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

Upgrading to version 6.18.55, 7.2.9 or 7.3-rc5 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch bd46b41f412fb81c50bac1a0929ec31320f3a807/f0cd8ffae092cc1b9d7cfa9188ed5a88a374adcb/a1b3c788ad31837e348075e93dbba3f447492776 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

• 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
• 6.18.54
• 7.2.0
• 7.2.1
• 7.2.2
• 7.2.3
• 7.2.4
• 7.2.5
• 7.2.6
• 7.2.7
• 7.2.8
• 7.3-rc1
• 7.3-rc2
• 7.3-rc3
• 7.3-rc4

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: 4.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.2

VulDB Base Score: 4.4
VulDB Temp Score: 4.2
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: Operation after expiration
CWE: CWE-672
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

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 6.18.55/7.2.9/7.3-rc5
Patch: bd46b41f412fb81c50bac1a0929ec31320f3a807/f0cd8ffae092cc1b9d7cfa9188ed5a88a374adcb/a1b3c788ad31837e348075e93dbba3f447492776

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-2026-98637 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-98637
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-422173

Entryinfo

Created: 10/18/2026 20:50
Changes: 10/18/2026 20:50 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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Discussion

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