Linux Kernel up to 7.2.12 hv init_vp_index infinite loop

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6.2	$0-$5k	0.34

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.190/6.6.160/6.12.114/6.18.58/7.2.12. Impacted is the function init_vp_index of the component hv. The manipulation results in infinite loop. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-99251. The attack may be performed from remote. There is no available exploit. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.190/6.6.160/6.12.114/6.18.58/7.2.12. Affected is the function init_vp_index of the component hv. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a infinite loop vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-835. The product contains an iteration or loop with an exit condition that cannot be reached, i.e., an infinite loop. This is going to have an impact on availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: Drivers: hv: Avoid infinite retry loop in init_vp_index() There is a retry loop in init_vp_index() where the CPUs from a certain node are stripped out if they have already been in the allocated cpumask or not in HK_TYPE_MANAGED_IRQ housekeeping cpumask. If there is no CPU left, the allocated cpumask is ignored and the process is retried again. However, if the HK_TYPE_MANAGED_IRQ housekeeping cpumask turns out not to contain any CPU in that particular node, that will become an infinite retry loop. This particular problem was reported by sashiko [1]. This should rarely happen, but we still need to guard against this. Fix this infinite loop problem by also skipping NUMA node that has no housekeeping CPU in the inner while loop of init_vp_index(). Also update the early abort check to check for the absence of online housekeeping CPUs instead of just the emptiness of the cpumask. As the outer for loop will only be reached if the housekeeping cpumask has at least one online CPU, a NUMA node with housekeeping CPUs will eventually be found.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-99251 since 09/25/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 11/03/2026). The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1499.

Upgrading to version 6.1.191, 6.6.161, 6.12.115, 6.18.59 or 7.2.13 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch b3993f6dc106ff416c7a613c631e1e0af451aed7/f561392afb44a8a42c54c1cfd3f33dace0b50537/15dd3429f0e76ca071657e480cb7e6ff3a1af730/7141331f2d245efc07175802a6bf76badec871ed/95fec47cdbf747b81ab22affd7252dda6050ad0c/32ea0a33e3a0fb7c10c601b43e1b2f6c06a3f5fd 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

• 6.1.190
• 6.6.160
• 6.12.114
• 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
• 6.18.55
• 6.18.56
• 6.18.57
• 6.18.58
• 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
• 7.2.9
• 7.2.10
• 7.2.11
• 7.2.12

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Infinite loop
CWE: CWE-835 / CWE-404
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 6.1.191/6.6.161/6.12.115/6.18.59/7.2.13
Patch: b3993f6dc106ff416c7a613c631e1e0af451aed7/f561392afb44a8a42c54c1cfd3f33dace0b50537/15dd3429f0e76ca071657e480cb7e6ff3a1af730/7141331f2d245efc07175802a6bf76badec871ed/95fec47cdbf747b81ab22affd7252dda6050ad0c/32ea0a33e3a0fb7c10c601b43e1b2f6c06a3f5fd

Timelineinfo

09/25/2026 CVE reserved
11/03/2026 +39 days Advisory disclosed
11/03/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
11/03/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CNA: Linux
CVE: CVE-2026-99251 (🔒)

GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-99251
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-430248

Entryinfo

Created: 11/03/2026 12:47
Changes: 11/03/2026 12:47 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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